Malungane, 16, Was Raised by His Mother Catherine, 44, After His Father Distanced Himself Soon After His Birth.

South African sprint star Bayanda Walaza and middle-distance runner Tiisetso Malungane, both moulded by single mothers who sacrificed their own ambitions, are rewriting the record books on the global athletics stage. Walaza, 20, a double junior world champion in the 100m and 200m, was just 10 when his father was shot dead in front of him during an argument.

His mother, Tholiwe Walaza, 47, said she feared he might seek revenge and took him to counselling. I was afraid that he might seek revenge for what had happened to his father... So it was very important for me to be a present mom, she told Daily Maverick. Malungane, 16, was raised by his mother Catherine, 44, after his father distanced