Leendert Koekemoer

Leendert Koekemoer

Personal information
Born	(2007-05-15) 15 May 2007 (age 17)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Sprint
Achievements and titles
Personal best	400m: 45.03 (2025)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing   South Africa World Relays 2025 Guangzhou 4×400 m relay

Leendert Koekemoer (born 15 May 2007) is a South African sprinter. ^[1]

Career

He ran 46.38 seconds to win the 400 metres at the South African Athletics U18 Championships title in 2023, at the age of 15 years-old. However, Koekemoer struggled with injuries the following year which derailed most of his 2024 season. In January 2025, he ran under 45.96 seconds for the 400 metres in his first race in the U20 category. In doing so, he became the tenth South African junior athlete to run under 46 seconds in the 400m sprint, climbing to eighth place in the all-time national rankings. ^[2]

He ran a new personal best of 45.03 seconds in the semi-finale of the South African Athletics Championships in April 2025, breaking the longstanding South African junior record of 45.15 seconds, set by Riaan Dempers, 31 years previously. ^{[3] [4]} In the final he finished in fifth place overall with a time of 45.31 seconds. ^[5]

He was selected for the South African relay pool at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China, where he was a gold medalist in the Men's 4 × 400 metres relay, running a split of 44.23 seconds in the final as the South African team set a new national record of 2:57.50. ^{[6] [7] [8]} He also competed in the Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay at the event. ^[9]

Personal life

He attends Helpmekaar Kollege in Johannesburg. ^[2]

References

1. "Leendert Koekemoer". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
2. Bolton, Wesley (30 Jan 2025). "JUNIOR SPRINTER LEENDERT KOEKEMOER SHATTERS 46-SECOND BARRIER". Backtrack.co.za. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
3. Botton, Wesley (4 May 2025). "Junior athletes are flaunting South Africa's immense talent". Citizen.co.za. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
4. "Leendert Koekemoer Shatters 31-Year-Old Junior Record with Electrifying 400m Semifinal Performance - Day 2". gijimaathleticsnews.com. 25 April 2025.
5. "South African Championships". World Athletics. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
6. "South Africa select a team of 19 for World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25". Athletics.Africa. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
7. "World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25: South Africa and Spain upset favourites in men's and women's 4x400m finals". Olympics.com. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
8. "USA, Spain and South Africa claim 4x400m titles in Guangzhou". World Athletics. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
9. "Mixed 4x400 Metres Relay - World Athletics Relays Championships 2025". Watch Athletics. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.