Rogail Joseph discovered her love for athletics in the streets of Rodewal in Worcester, and has always believed that she could achieve anything. Now, as a South African 400 m hurdler and Olympic semi-finalist, it is her dedication and self-confidence that have paved her way to the world’s biggest sporting stage.
She became a running sensation at the age of 16, competing in the 2016 400 m hurdles U/16 Championships in Germiston and the 200 metres heat at the National Secondary Schools Championships in Bloemfontein. From there, her success on the track took off.
In 2019, she had a highly successful campaign where she demonstrated her ability to compete with the best. She became a two-time U/20 African Champion, winning the 400 m hurdles and 100 m hurdles titles. She also won the South African U/20 400 m hurdles title and the South African University Championship 400 m hurdles title. In addition to these achievements, she was nominated for the Emerging Athlete of the Year category at the 2019 G-Sport Awards.
One of Rogail’s most notable achievements was winning a gold medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana, in 2024, where she crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 55.39 seconds. She secured automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in France after finishing runner-up in the 400 m hurdles at the South African National Championships, with a time of 54.84 seconds.
Representing both South Africa and the NWU at the 2024 Olympic Games, Rogail says that this was one of the best moments of her career. She reached the Olympic semi-finals and achieved a personal best of 54.12 seconds, the fastest time of her career.
“The 2024 Olympic Games were one of the best moments in my career,” she says. “Making it to the Olympics was a dream come true. What made the experience even more meaningful was knowing that my community was behind me every step of the way, supporting me from the heats right through to the semi-finals.”
Earlier this year, Rogail successfully defended her 400 m hurdles African title, winning a gold medal at the 24th African Championships in Accra, Ghana, in May with a time of 54.74 seconds. The 26-year-old coaching science student also competed in the 2026 World Athletics Relays, which took place in Gaborone, Botswana, from 2 to 3 May.
Reflecting on the challenges she has had to overcome to remain Africa’s top-ranked 400 m hurdler, she credits her family as her biggest source of motivation. “My family is my biggest motivation. Everything I do is driven by the desire to give them the best life possible,” she says. “Every sacrifice and setback is worth it when I think about my family. Their support gives me the strength to keep going, and knowing that I can make a difference in their lives is what drives me to give my all every single day.”
“I have learned that self-confidence and belief in yourself are essential. If you genuinely believe in your abilities, you can achieve anything. My goal is to reach the finals at the next World Championships and Olympic Games. Medal success would be a bonus, but simply competing against the world’s best would be a dream come true.
Rogail remains one of Africa’s top-ranked hurdlers, having been listed in the top 8 at the All-African Games. Currently ranked 22nd in the world, she continues to inspire the next generation with her dedication and commitment to excellence.
Olympic Semi-finalist Rogail Joseph
