ZAMBIA’S golden gazelle Muzala Samukonga has officially broken through the clouds of world athletics to become the second-fastest 400m runner on the planet and the undisputed number one in Africa, according to the latest World Athletics Rankings.
At just 22 years old, the humble Staff Sergeant from the Zambia National Service has not only clocked a blistering 43.74 seconds in the 400m dash but has now outrun nearly every sprinter on earth except one, Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith.
In the overall men’s rankings across all track and field events, Muzala is now placed 26th globally and sits at sixth on the African continent, further establishing him as one of the most formidable athletes Zambia has ever produced.
Just three years ago, few outside the continent knew his name.
That all changed in 2022, when the then-20-year-old stunned a roaring Birmingham stadium by snatching gold at the Commonwealth Games, elbowing past British favourite Matthew Hudson-Smith in one of the most dramatic 400m finishes in recent memory.
In 2024, he roared back at the All Africa Games, collecting another gold medal and setting a new national record of 43.91 seconds, punching his ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There, in front of millions, the Zambian stormed the Olympic track and sprinted his way to a bronze medal, crossing the line at 43.74 seconds, a time that has now cemented him as the second-best 400m athlete globally and the fastest African alive.
By George Musonda
Kalemba July 31, 2025
