Shirley Nekhubui

Last updated
Shirley (Nekhubvi) Nekhubui
Personal information
Full nameShirley Ndishavhelafhi Nekhubui
NationalitySouth African
Born (2000-07-31) 31 July 2000 (age 24)
Tswera, Thohoyandou, Limpopo
Sport
Sport Athletics
Event Sprint
ClubUniversity of Johannesburg
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)200m: 22.84 (2024)
400m: 51.28 (2025)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
African Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Douala Mixed 4×400 m relay
World Relays
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2025 Guangzhou 4×400 m relay

Shirley Nekhubui (born 31 July 2000) is a South African sprinter. [1]

Contents

Early life

She was born in Tswera, Venda, located in Limpopo, South Africa. She attended Tswera Primary School and later completed her secondary education at David Mutshinyalo Secondary School. Her athletic talent was recognized in 2015 by Mr. Richard Makhumisani, who identified her as a promising young sprinter. She began competing in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, showing notable success in all three disciplines. She later moved from Tswera to Ha-Ravele, Sinthumule, where she lived with Mr Richard Makhumisani.

Over the years, she trained under several coaches, including Mr. Makonde Makhumisani, Mr. Samuel Sepeng, Mr. Thabo Matebedi and Mr. Paul Gories. In 2023, she joined the University of Johannesburg Athletics Club and began training under Coach Reneilwe Aphane. She represented South Africa at major international competitions, including the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the 2022 African Championships in Saint Pierre, Mauritius, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she was part of the women's 4 × 400 m relay team that placed fourth.

In 2024, she won gold at the National Championships in Pietermaritzburg, becoming the national champion in both the 200m and 400m events. That same year, she claimed a gold medal in the mixed 4 × 400 m relay at the African Championships in Douala. In 2025, she earned a bronze medal in the women's 4 × 400 m relay at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou.

As of 2025, she holds South African national records in the 300m (36.36), the mixed 4 × 400 m relay (3:13.12), and the women's 4 × 400 m relay (3:24.84). [2] [3]

Career

She finished fourth overall with the South African team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in the women's 4 x 400 metres relay. However, she suffered with injury during parts of 2022 and 2023. She won the South African Athletics Championships over 200 metres and 400 metres in Pietermaritzburg in April 2024, running a personal best 52.77 seconds. [3]

She was a gold medalist in the mixed 4 x 400 metres at the 2024 African Championships in Douala, Cameroon alongside Gardeo Isaacs, Mthi Mthimkulu and Miranda Coetzee in 3:13.12, breaking the South African national record. [4] She finished fourth overall in the individual 400 metres and fifth in the final of the individual 200 metres at the same championships. [5] [6]

In February 2025, she ran a South African national record 36.36 seconds over 300 metres. [7] In March 2025, in Tshwane, she was a member of South African women's 4 × 400 m relay team which broke the nine-year-old national record alongside Coetzee, Marlie Viljoen and Zenéy Geldenhuys who ran 3:28.30 which took 0.19 off the previous best mark of 3:28.49 which was set by Caster Semenya, Jeanelle Griessel, Wenda Nel and Justine Palframan at the African Athletics Championships in Durban in 2016. [8]

She was part of the South African women's 4 x 400 metres relay team which ran a 3:24.84 national record to place third at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China. [9] She also competed in the Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay at the event. [10]

References

  1. "Shirley Nekhubui". World Athletics. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  2. "UJ athletes hold their own at the ASA Grand Prix II". Citizen.co.za. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 "'In 2024 everything is going well' - Shirley Nekhubui ready for World Relays after doing national 200m/400m double". The Top Runner. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. "HUGE MEDALS HAUL BY WOMEN ATHLETES IN TEAM SA'S AFRICAN SENIOR CHAMPS WIN IN CAMEROON". Gsport. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  5. "African Championships". World Athletics. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  6. "African Championships". World Athletics. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  7. "Okon, Nekhubui, La Grange set records at Akani Simbine Classic Shootout". uj.ac.za. February 14, 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  8. "SOUTH AFRICAN RECORDS TUMBLE AT ASA GRAND PRIX 1 IN TSHWANE". gsport.co.za. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  9. "South Africa break two records, top medal table in Guangzhou". Athletics.Africa. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  10. "Mixed 4x400 Metres Relay - World Athletics Relays Championships 2025". Watch Athletics. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.