18/08/2025
Meet the Man Behind SprintLab: Coach T (Thabo Matebedi)
With 19 years of coaching experience in sprints and hurdles, Coach T has dedicated his career to developing champions. Over the years, he has guided countless athletes to success at national championships and beyond, with many competing and excelling on the international stage.
Coach T’s track record includes working with world-class athletes such as:
• Anaso Jobodwana – Olympian and World Championship medalist
• Shaun Maswangayi – Former South African junior 100m record holder (10.05)
• Tshenolo Lemao – U/18 100m Youth World Champion & 200m Silver Medalist.
Throughout his career, Coach T has produced 17 Junior African Champions, a testament to his ability to nurture raw talent into elite performers.
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🏆 2025 Achievements
• U/18 Boys African Champion – 100m & 200m (Mukona Manavhela “Smiley”)
• World Student Champion -100m & 200m (Baynda Walaza)
• SA Senior Men 100m – Champion & Silver Medalists (Gift Leotlela & Bayanda Walaza)
• SA Senior Men 200m Champion – (Sinesipho Dambile)
• U/20 National 100m Champion – (Bayanda Walaza)
• U/18 Boys 100m & 200m National Champion – (Mukona Manavhela “Smiley”)
• U/20 SA National 100m Bronze Medalist – (Zattu Hlongwane)
• U/18 Girls SA Silver Medalist – (Mokgadi Maake)
• U/20 National 400m Hurdles Silver Medalist – (Matodzi Ndou)
• U/20 Men National Records – 100m (3rd fastest in the world, 2025) & 200m (Bayanda Walaza)
• Three Athletes Qualified for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo (Gift Leotlela 100m, Sinesipho Dambile 200m and Bayanda Walaza 100m).
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Coach T’s commitment to excellence and athlete development continues to shape the future of South African sprinting. SprintLab is more than just a training hub — it’s a factory of champions.