Team Gauteng School Sport are the undisputed schools Athletics champions in the country, having once again defended their title at the National School Sports Championships (NSSC) held in Bloemfontein from April 2nd to 5th, 2025.
The team has lived up to the province’s tagline of the ‘home of champions’, having held on to the title since the start of the competition in 2012.
A total of 435-member-team-Gauteng, 185 of which were from schools with Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) took on athletes from other 08 provinces and achieved a total of 201 medals, 23 more than their next rivals. This they achieved with 69 gold, 73 silver and 59 bronze medals in their list.
The national school sports championships is a premier event within the sporting sector and have seen top athletes including the likes of Olympic medalist, Bayanda Walaza coming through the ranks.
Four of the championship’s top six athletes come from Gauteng: Jaco Van Dyk (shot put), Khotso Motsamai (Long jump), Janelle Kirkpatrick (15 90 hurdles), and Darious Botha (shot put).
At the same games, the team also claimed top honours in aquatics, swimming all the way to position one.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, was in attendance to witness Team Gauteng lift the national trophy in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 5 April.
“For 13-year Gauteng has been at the top of school sport achievements and continues to yield top sporting talent for the country. This is evidence that the schools, coaches, athletes and parents are all doing something right and this is commendable. Also we might not have the sea but our young athletes surely know how to navigate waters and we can only get excited.
“School sport is the bedrock of sports development, and as Gauteng, we are excited to be contributing at taking the country forward in identifying, nurturing, and producing the required talent. This victory reaffirms that Gauteng is indeed the “Home of Champions” and that school sport is not only alive but thriving”; said MEC Chiloane
