ZAMBIA’s very own golden boy of the tracks, Muzala Samukonga, has officially sprinted into elite company after being ranked third fastest 400-metre runner in the world, according to the latest global standings released by World Athletics.
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At just 22 years old, Muzala has quietly but fiercely climbed the international rankings, clocking an impressive personal best of 43.74 seconds, and in the process, put Zambia’s name right at the centre of global athletics.
He has been making international headlines since 2022 when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Commonwealth Games history beating then-race favourite Hudson-Smith of Great Britain, right on his home turf in Birmingham, to snatch the gold medal.
After his Commonwealth triumph, Muzala qualified for the World Championships and the prestigious Diamond League circuit, but injury knocked him out of contention in 2023.
Like a true soldier, the soft-spoken speedster made a powerful comeback in 2024 at the All Africa Games, where he clinched another gold medal and smashed his own national record, clocking 43.91 seconds, booking his spot in Paris.
At the Paris Olympics, Muzala, a Staff Sergeant from the Zambia National Service clinched the bronze medal in the 400 metres final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games clocking in at 43.74 seconds, a record that has pushed him to global top three.
By George Musonda
Kalemba June 17, 2025
