On 9 August 2025 in Chengdu, South Africa’s Jason Theron etched his name into history by winning the silver medal in the inaugural Heyball Mixed event at The World Games.
In a fiercely contested final, gold went to Zhang Taiyi of China, with Tang Chunxiao of China taking bronze. As part of the Heroes of the Games series, Theron reflects on a journey defined by belief, pressure, and an unforgettable first for his sport.
“Unforgettable — getting a silver medal for my country, and in the first-ever Heyball edition, was pretty cool. Even though it wasn’t gold, I’m still happy and proud of what I achieved.”
For Theron, one memory from Chengdu stands above the rest.
“I’ll never forget the moment after my match, when I packed my cues away and walked back to the athletes’ room. The crowd cheered for me — that really was unforgettable.”
It was a powerful show of respect from a passionate Chinese crowd, acknowledging a performance that captivated the arena and showcased Heyball on one of its biggest stages yet.
Theron felt the possibility of something special early in the final.
“Throughout the match I felt good, especially after the first frame where I made a break and finish. I realised I could actually win the gold.”
Momentum swung late, however, when a rare miss proved decisive.
“When I was 4–3 down, he gave me my chance, but unfortunately I missed an easy black ball to make it 4–all for the decider.”
Despite the disappointment of being so close, Theron’s silver medal remains one of South Africa’s standout achievements of the Games.
Standing on the podium, draped in green and gold, Theron’s thoughts turned immediately to home.
“Definitely my dad,” he said when asked who he thought of first.
That quiet dedication behind the scenes, he admits, has been central to his rise.
From Pretoria (RSA) to The World Games stage
Theron’s Heyball journey began humbly in 2016.
“I started at a local qualifier in Pretoria. I ended up winning that for a trip to China, then from there I did pretty well and got sponsors to keep going back for more events.”
What followed was a steady climb through the international ranks.
“It’s been one hell of a journey, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities I get. But honestly, it was smooth sailing — probably the hardest part was getting an extension on my visa while in China. If I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t have been able to play the semifinals.”
The paperwork came through just in time.
“I literally got the extension on the same day as the semifinals.”
Motivation through the lows
When results don’t fall his way, Theron keeps things simple.
“I guess just trying to better my results keep me going.”
It’s a mindset that has carried him through near-misses and onto the biggest podium of his career.
Wearing the national colours
Competing at The World Games, Theron says, brought a different kind of pressure.
“It’s a different feeling when you’re representing your country. You have so many people cheering for you back home.”
The atmosphere in Chengdu left a lasting impression.
“The crowd in that final was just insane — it was something else.”
“I met a few fellow South Africans. I didn’t really go see other sports, but it was pretty cool to be in the Athletes’ Village, walking around and chatting with other athletes.”
Since Chengdu, life has changed in unexpected ways.
“In China, people recognise me a lot now — and even Chinese people in other countries will come up to me and ask for a picture.”
He adds with a laugh:
“I don’t know if it’s because I missed the easy black ball!”
The future of Heyball
Theron believes the sport is on the cusp of something big.
“There’s so much happening in Heyball right now. The money injected into the game keeps increasing every year.”
The ultimate dream is clear.
“The Olympics would be huge for Heyball, and hopefully we get to see this discipline there. There are also many junior tournaments now, which really helps.”