Growing up in Medingen village, Ga-Sekgota in Limpopo, young Prudence Sekgodiso dreamt of being known beyond the hills around her village.
She is now living her dream as a top internationally acclaimed sprinter who recently won gold in the 800m World Indoor Championship.
Sekgodiso, 23, etched her name in the history books when she walked away with a gold medal at the World Indoor Championship in Nanjing, China, last weekend.
It did not only end there, but she also added a cherry on top by winning her 800m race in one minute 58.40 seconds, beating the long- and middle-distance running meccas of Ethiopia.
“Building up to the Indoor Champs, I knew that I was going to get a medal, but winning gold was a shock for me.”
Sekgodiso said upon her arrival early in the week.
“I was competing against the Ethiopians, who I thought were going to win since they are specialists in short and middle distance, but here I am, and I ended up coming out victorious.”
Dubbed the next Caster Semenya in the 800m middle distance, the exciting prospect has been one of the emerging talents in track and field.
The 23-year-old said that among her goals of staying fit and injury-free this year, she is hoping to emulate Semenya and possibly surpass her.
“When it comes to outdoors, I’m going to do better. The plan is to run 1:55 by the end of this year. I think everything will come all together.
“So, my ultimate goal for this year is to try and fight for that medal or podium finish at the World Athletics Championships [in September], stay healthy, and also be injury-free.
“Technically, I am already on top of the world at the age of 23. I also admire Caster a lot, and what she achieved inspires me a lot, and the long-term goal is to reach the level she reached and, if possible, surpass it.”
She is also a gold medallist in the 800m at the 2019 African U/18 Championships and a five-time South African winner in the 500m and 800m.
She earned her first international medal at the 2018 African Youth Games, winning a bronze in the 800m.
