Tazmin Brits – South African Sprint Star and Rugby Sevens Talent

When you hear the name Tazmin Brits, a South African athlete who excels in both the 400 metre sprint and rugby sevens. Also known as Brits, she embodies the blend of speed and power that defines elite track and field 400m sprint and fast‑paced rugby sevens. Her journey is tightly linked to South African athletics, a system that nurtures talent for the Olympic stage and the World Rugby Sevens Series.

From the Track to the Field: How a Sprinter Becomes a Sevens Star

Growing up in Pretoria, Tazmin Brits first cut her teeth on the 400 m track, clocking sub‑50 seconds as a teenager. Her training routine combined interval repeats, strength work, and mental drills—key attributes that any 400 m athlete needs to master. In 2016 she qualified for the Rio Olympics, where she posted a personal best of 49.96 seconds, a time that placed her among the continent’s top quarter‑mile runners. The sprint’s demand for sustained speed directly translates to the open‑space running required in rugby sevens, where a player must cover 14‑minute matches with explosive bursts. This overlap illustrates the semantic triple: Tazmin Brits requires athletic versatility, and rugby sevens influences her training. Her Olympic experience also gave her exposure to high‑pressure environments, a skill set that proves priceless during the World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments.

After the 2016 Games, Brits made the bold switch to rugby sevens, joining the South African Women’s Sevens squad. The transition wasn’t just a change of sport; it was a shift in tactical mindset. In sevens, every tackle, line‑break, or support run can decide a match, making decision‑making as crucial as raw speed. Over the next two seasons, she logged more than 20 caps, helping the Blitzbokke secure a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Her ability to sprint 40 metres in under five seconds gave the team an edge on the breakaway, while her background in the 400 m taught her how to pace herself across multiple high‑intensity efforts in a single tournament. This demonstrates another triple: South African athletics supports her development, and Tazmin Brits encompasses the 400m sprint.

Beyond the medals, Brits has become a role model for young South Africans, especially women who see a clear path from school‑track meets to the global stage. She frequently visits schools, sharing stories about balancing academics, training, and the mental resilience needed to compete. Her advocacy work aligns with the broader mission of World Rugby Sevens Series, which aims to grow the sport in emerging markets and inspire the next generation of athletes. By speaking at community events, she reinforces the idea that sport can be a vehicle for personal growth, social change, and national pride. This connection highlights the triple: rugby sevens influences community engagement and Tazmin Brits drives inspiration.

Looking ahead, Brits is set to target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she hopes to combine her sprint expertise with her sevens experience for a historic double‑sport appearance. Fans can also expect her to feature prominently in the next season of the Sevens World Series, where her speed off the line will continue to challenge opponents. Whether you’re a track aficionado, a rugby fan, or simply curious about how one athlete can excel across disciplines, the stories below showcase the breadth of her achievements and the lessons she offers.

Below you’ll find a curated list of articles that dive deeper into her race times, tournament performances, training insights, and impact on South African sport. Explore the collection to see how Tazmin Brits is reshaping expectations and paving the way for future multi‑sport stars.