TEAM BOTSWANA: TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS PERFORMANCE IN A NUTSHELL
BY:Rapalai Calystus
Team Botswana sent a team of 30 people to the Olympics, 14 athletes from four different sports codes (field and track, boxing, swimming and weight lifting), and the management team which was led by Mr Raymond Phale.
Team Botswana led by Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Ngozi Zibane and Ndori Bayapo set a new African record for the men’s 4×400m relay with a clocking of 2.58.33 to finish in position two and qualify for the finals. On the 7th of August 2021, Team Botswana won the bronze medal after finishing 3rd with a time of 2.57.27, another new African record.
Team Botswana set a new 4×400m African record and won a bronze medal after finishing 3rd in the men’s relay, being the first African country to win a medal in the men’s 4×400m since Nigeria in 2004 Olympics.
FIELD AND TRACK:TEAM BOTSWANA
Isaac Makwala
The most celebrated 400m sprinter took position 7 on the men’s 400m final with a time of 44.94. Makwala won his heat with a time of 44.86 to book a spot in the semi-finals and finished third in the semis with a time of 44.59 which booked him a spot at the finals.
Nijel Amos
The 27 years old Marobela born Nijel Amos easily cruised to the semi-finals of the Tokyo 2020 800m with a time of 1.45.04 to win the race. He competed on the semi finals where he was tripped and fell in the race knocking him out of the games, he completed the race and finished last with a time of 2.38.49. Amos qualified for the finals by referee decision where he took position 8 from the final at the Tokyo Olympics with a time of 1.46.41.
Leungo Scotch
The 24 years old Kareng born 400 metres sprinter Leungo Scotch finished fourth in his heat to qualify for the next stage with a best qualifying time of 45.32 in the men’s 400m. Leungo failed to qualify for the finals after finishing in 5th position.
Zibane Ngozi.
The 29 years old 400m sprinter was part of Team Botswana relay team that won bronze and set a new African relay record of 2.57.27. Zibane ran a time of 44.40 on the new African record.
Anthony Pesela
Rising star Anthony was included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics relay team but unfortunately, he was an unused substitute.
Bayapo Ndori
The 22 years old 400 metres athlete from Tutume who is said to emulate Makwala was part of the relay team that won bronze and set a new African relay record. Ndori ran a time of 44.20 on the 2.57.27 new record that was set by Team Botswana at the 4×400m relay final.Ndori clocked a sub 44 ahead of the finals.
Baboloki Thebe
The 24 years old Botswana track and field sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres is also part of the 2020 Olympics team after he was selected for the 4×400 metres relay team. Thebe also played a pivotal role in making sure that the relay team brings a medal home after recording a time of 44.7 from the 2.57.27 new record and win bronze.
Christine Botlogetswe
The 26 years old Rakops Botswana sprinter registered a season-best of 53.99 despite finishing last and not being able to qualify for the next round in the Women’s 400m heat.
Amantle Montsho
The 38 years old sprinter who specializes in the 400m did not finish the race in the first round of the Tokyo 2020, she stopped halfway due to an unconfirmed injury in the women’s 400m.
Galefele Moroko
Moroko finished the women’s 400m preliminaries at position 7 with the season timing of 55.89, unfortunately, did not qualify for the next round too.
BOXING
Keamogetswe Kenosi
Sadie lost her preliminary bout in the women’s 57kg featherweight division against British Champion Kariss Artingstall, knocking the DTCB Boxing club star boxer early in the tournament. Kariss proved to be too much for Sadie winning by unanimous decision.
Rajab Otukile Mohammed
Botswana’s number 1 boxer Rajab bowed out of Tokyo 2020 Olympics boxing competition after losing by unanimous decision to Yubergen Herney of Colombia in the preliminaries of the much-anticipated tourney.
SWIMMING
James Freeman
Freeman finished last at position 8 in heat 2 of men’s 400m freestyle in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a timing of 4.03.10 eliminating him from the race.He had another chance but was knocked out of the Tokyo 2020 swimming competitions after finishing second last in position 6 with a timing of 1.52.87 in 200m freestyle. He improved in performance ranking after finishing last in the 400m freestyle.
WEIGHT LIFTING
Magdeline Moyengwa
The 20 years old girl Magdeline Moyengwa was eliminated out of the women’s 59kg weightlifting in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games after failing to lift 80kg. The upcoming weightlifter managed to lift 65kg on the first attempt and 70kg on the 2nd attempt while the third attempt which was 80kg proved futile thus not progressing in the competition.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic games which started on the 23rd of July ends on the 8th of August 2021, with the country having won the second medal at the Olympics through the men’s 4×400m relay team after Nijel Amos historic medal showpiece at London 2012 Olympics.
Meanwhile,USA tops the Tokyo 2020 Olympics medal tally with 113 medals,followed by China 88 and 58,wheras Botswana is positioned at number 86.
