Viwe Jingqi (born 17 February 2005) is a South African track and field athlete. In 2024 she became South African national champion over 100 metres.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | South African |
| Born | 17 February 2005 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | Sprint |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 100m: 11.22 (Potchefstroom, 2022) 200m: 22.96 (Pretoria, 2024) |
Early life
editBorn in Engcobo, a town in the Eastern Cape to her mother Nothando and father Zweledinga, she attended TuksSport High School in Pretoria. Her older brother Vukile died in a car accident in 2021.[2][3]
Career
editShe trained at the University of Pretoria before with her sprint coach Paul Gorries at North-West University, she was South African U18 champion over both 100 metres and 200 metres in 2022.[4] In August 2022, as a 17-year-old, she qualified for both the 100m and 200m finals at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. The year before previously, aged only 16, she had progressed to the 200m semifinals at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.[5]
In 2022, she was nominated for South African Junior Athlete of the Year.[6] She suffered an illness and injury-hit 2023, including the forced removal of her appendix, which limited her capacity for racing.[7][8]
She won the 100 metres at the South African National championships in April 2024 in a time of 11.23 seconds.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Viwe Jingqi". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Botton, Wesley (9 April 2022). "From tragic loss to breaking ground: Viwe Jingqi rewriting record books". Citizen.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Viwe Jingqi, 17". 200youngsouthafricans. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Baloyi, Charles (15 March 2024). "Teenage sprinter Viwe Jingqi is back following a long-term injury". sabcsport. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Isaacson, David (15 March 2024). "My life was hell without athletics,' says teen sprint star Viwe Jingqi". Timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "2022 BACKTRACK PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS NOMINATIONS". Athleticsawards.co.za. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ Xabania, Simnikiwe (17 March 2024). "'Without athletics my life was hell': Viwe Jingqi on finally making it back on track". news24.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Isaacson, David (21 February 2024). "Sprint sensation Jingqi returns to track after injuries, illness derailed her 2023". Timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Mohamed, Ashfak (19 April 2024). "Akani Simbine, Viwe Jingqi rule 100m as Wayde van Niekerk 'shakes legs out a bit'". iol.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2024.