UCT sprinter’s unstoppable rise to stardom

From Mahikeng to India; from Rustenburg to Dubai; and from a young boy racing barefoot on primary school grounds to a record-holding University of Cape Town (UCT) sprinter – Motheo Khumo Kotsedi’s story is still unfolding.

But one thing is certain: with determination, hard work and the right support system, opportunity can become achievement.

It is this arc – a journey marked by travel stamps, lane assignments, and hard-won lessons – that defines Kotsedi’s extraordinary year on the track. A master’s student in business communication and a standout athlete for UCT, he has returned from two international competitions with new confidence, a deeper sense of purpose, and tangible proof that his future in sprinting is accelerating.

Though his career now spans national championships and international meets, athletics began humbly for Kotsedi.

“I’ve been doing athletics since primary school,” he recalled. “My mom is the one I got the gift from. I played soccer too, but athletics always pulled me back.”

Raised between Rustenburg and Mahikeng, he quickly became a rising figure in the North West athletics. By the time he arrived at UCT in 2020, he had already represented his province at youth, junior and senior national championships – stacking up medals he no longer bothers counting.

“Honestly, I’ve lost track,” he laughed. “But yes, before UCT, I held provincial records too.”

A turning point at UCT

When he joined UCT for postgraduate studies, sprinting remained a steady companion. But his performance trajectory changed dramatically after switching coaches.

“After I changed coaches, things improved a lot,” he said. And the results followed.

He went on to represent Western Province and break UCT’s records in the 60 m, 100 m and 200 m, cementing himself as one of the university’s fastest-ever sprinters.
 

“I told myself: go back to the drawing board. Fix your mistakes. Learn. That’s exactly what I did.”

With the 2024/25 season approaching, his coach mapped out two international opportunities: India in August and Dubai in November. Both competitions would test him and reveal the kind of athlete he was becoming.

Kotsedi qualified for the Indian meet after clocking 10.58 in the 100 m and 21.36 in the 200 m – performances that comfortably met the World Athletics continental tour entry standards.

But the lead-up to India was fraught with obstacles. A visa processing delay meant that out of six athletes, only he managed to secure his entry on time.

“I did my own e-visa, which is free. That’s the only reason I was able to go,” he explained. “The others weren’t so lucky.”

He landed in India a day before competing – hardly enough time to adjust to the humidity, time zone and unfamiliar competition systems.

“The gun system is different, the humidity is crazy, and I was jet-lagged. I had to adapt very quickly.”

Despite these setbacks, he reached the 200 m final. It wasn’t his best performance, but the experience was transformative.

“I told myself: go back to the drawing board. Fix your mistakes. Learn. That’s exactly what I did.”

India, in many ways, became the beginning of a new chapter – the chapter where he stopped running with pure instinct and started running with intention.
 

Three months later, the next opportunity arrived: the Ultimate Athletics Race Night in Dubai. This time, Kotsedi wasn’t navigating administrative hurdles alone. Funding from UCT Sport ensured that he could travel early, rest properly and prepare like a professional athlete.

“I’m so thankful to UCT Sport,” he said. “Without them, Dubai wouldn’t have been possible.”

And the difference was immediate. “Going a few days earlier made such a difference. I could rest, climatise and actually be ready to run.”

Even though he was in heavy winter training – typically the slowest part of a sprinter’s cycle – he exceeded expectations.

In the 100 m, he placed second in his heat and third overall. In the 200 m, he won his heat and finished second overall. “For where I was in the season, those times showed that next year is going to be special,” he noted. “I left Dubai very happy.”

A village of support

For all his natural talent, Kotsedi is adamant that no athlete succeeds alone. His gratitude flows easily, especially toward the people who form his personal “village”.

“My family supports me from far away, especially my mom. She always jokes that the talent comes from her,” he quipped. “But here in Cape Town, I need a support structure too. My coach, my teammates … iron sharpens iron. They hold me accountable.”

And then there is institutional support – a factor he believes is often underestimated in South African athletics.

“The funding from UCT Sport was everything,” he said. “They believed in me. They wanted me to succeed. That makes a world of difference.”

“This achievement is not just for me,” he reflects. “It’s for everyone who believed in me. My family, my team, UCT. It’s been a long journey, but I see this as a team effort, not an individual one.”

His ambitions now stretch beyond provincial races and university records.

“I see myself competing on the big stages one day,” he said. “I’m ambitious. I always try to do my best. And with everything we’re building, I believe we’re on the right track.”