Springer’s bronze highlights Guyana’s World U20 Championship campaign

Aug 10, 2026 Sports

From left: Women’s 400m silver medalist Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez of Team United States, gold medalist Anastazja Kus of Team Poland and bronze medalist Tianna Springer of Team Guyana celebrate on the podium at the medal’s ceremony (Getty Images)

By Rawle Toney

(Kaieteur Sport) The five-day World U20 Championships came to an end last evening in Oregon, USA, with the world’s best young athletes taking centre stage at one of the biggest moments of their budding careers.

For Guyana, while the country continues to chase that elusive gold medal, 18-year-old Tianna Springer created a piece of history of her own. Her bronze medal in the women’s 400m gave Guyana its first podium finish at the championships in 14 years.

Tianna Springer proudly displays her women’s 400m bronze at the World U20 Championship.

Springer’s third-place finish ensured Guyana departed Oregon with one medal, a bronze, and its second-ever medal since the global junior championships began in Athens, Greece, in 1986.
Springer delivered when it mattered most, clocking 51.76 seconds in the women’s 400m final to secure third place after entering the race as one of the leading medal contenders.
She had won both her heat and semi-final, building confidence and momentum with each round.

Poland’s Anastazja Ku[ captured the gold in a national U20 record 51.06 seconds, while American Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez took silver in 51.36s.
Springer’s bronze ended a 14-year wait dating back to 2012, when Kadecia Baird won silver in Barcelona, Spain. Baird’s achievement was historic, as she became the first Guyanese athlete to win a medal at the World U20 Championships.

The championships, however, produced mixed fortunes for the Guyanese contingent, with several athletes delivering notable performances despite falling short of the podium.
Malachi Austin, who joined Springer in the 400m finals, finished sixth in the men’s event, capping a strong showing from one of Guyana’s leading young quarter-milers.

Guyana also produced a National U20 record in the men’s 4x400m relay. The quartet of Tishawn Easton, Dejuan Grant, Skylar Charles and Austin clocked 3:10.93 to finish fifth in their heat.

Easton opened in 47.46s, followed by Grant in 48.54s and Charles in 49.54s, before Austin produced a strong anchor leg of 45.39s.

The men’s 4x100m quartet of Ezekiel Millington, Gordon Thompson, Dequan Farrell and Onesi Dunn also competed strongly, clocking 41.11s to finish seventh in their heat.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Olivia Solomon continued to impress, setting another National U20 record in the women’s 800m. The CARIFTA Games U17 champion clocked 2:06.15 to finish fifth in her semi-final, lowering the national mark she had established earlier in Oregon.

Although several of Guyana’s athletes fell short of the podium, Springer’s bronze provided the defining moment of the country’s campaign.

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bronze, Guyana’s World U20 Championship, Oregon, Tianna Springer, USA

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