GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - South Africa delivered a commanding and emphatic performance at the UIPM 2025 Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run World Championships, finishing top of the medal table after six days of world-class competition from Monday to Saturday, 8 to 13 December.
Mossel Bay played host to more than 1 600 athletes from 34 nations, turning the Southern Cape into the global epicentre of modern pentathlon's endurance disciplines.
Racing across all UIPM age categories - from U9 through to masters 70+ - the championships thrilled spectators with tightly contested heats, dramatic sprint finishes and inspiring displays of athletic grit.
Despite the exceptionally high international standard, Team SA rose above the rest, topping the medal standings with outstanding numbers of gold, silver and bronze. Great Britain came in second and Egypt third. Official medal counts were not yet available at the time of publishing.
Team SA. Photo: Hannes Naude
The UIPM Para-biathle, Para-triathle and Para Laser Run World Championships ran concurrently, adding another layer of inspiration to the event. Para-athletes from five nations competed, with George's own Minke Janse van Rensburg striking gold in the PMP7 biathle category, further strengthening South Africa's medal tally. She also won silver medals in the triathle and laser run events.
Para-athletes Sara Doweder (EGY) and Minke Janse van Rensburg (RSA). Photo: UIPM/Filip Komorous
A para-athlete from Mossel Bay, Patrick Saayman, also claimed some fame. Although he did not make the podium, Saayman participated in his first-ever UIPM world championship. See a post-race interview with him here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CMWj9S1dS/
Eden's Protea athletes were central to the country's success, delivering some of the most dominant performances of the championships and underlining the depth of talent in the region.
Arguably the standout performance came from Mossel Bay's Johan Windt, who produced a composed and powerful display throughout the week.
Johan Windt (masters 70+). Photo: Hugo Redelinghuys
Competing in the masters 70+ men's categories, Windt claimed three world titles, winning gold in the biathle, triathle and laser run events. In the mixed relays for biathle, triathle and laser run, he managed silver, bronze and bronze respectively. His explosive final surge in the laser run, where he left the rest of the field well behind, was a striking reminder of his class and conditioning.
"But I'm getting too old for this now," Windt joked after his final victory, moments after securing yet another world title - a remark that belied both his performance and his competitive fire.
Young talent also shone brightly. Great Brak's Mia Botha (junior women) had an equally impressive performance as the week went on. She started the competition off with a bronze in biathle, but got the gold for biathle mixed relay, triathle, laser run and laser run mixed relay.
Mia Botha (junior women). Photo: UIPM/Filip Komorous
She further managed a silver for the triathle mixed relay along with her teammate from George, Josua Vorster.
Keyla Douglas, a learner of Glenwood House in George, also claimed gold in the girls' U13 triathle final.
Keyla Douglas (girls U13). Photo: Hugo Redelinghuys
The Haasbroek trio, also from George, did their family name proud: mother Mariska (masters 40+) took silver for laser run as well as laser run mixed relay. Her son, Wanru (U13), won gold for triathle mixed relay and silver for biathle, biathle mixed relay, triathle, laser run and laser run mixed relay. Daughter Duné (U19) bagged a gold for the triathle mixed relay.
Mariska Haasbroek (masters 40+) and her son Wanru (U13) during their respective races. Photos: Hugo Redelinghuys
Another two George athletes, Annabelle McEwan (U17) and Gavin Gericke (masters 60+), won bronze medals - Annabelle for biathle and Gavin for biathle, triathle and laser run.
Gavin Gericke (masters 60+). Photo: Hugo Redelinghuys
On the Knysna front, Marsel Roos (masters 40+) earned himself an impressive two medals - gold for the biathle mixed relay and silver for biathle.
As the final medals were awarded and the dust settled, one fact stood clear: on home soil, South Africa did not merely compete - the Proteas dominated, reinforcing their status as a global force in biathle, triathle and laser run competition.
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