Categories: Athletics

ISAAC MAKWALA(34) IS A TRUE DEFINITION OF A MASTER CLASS

Isaac Makwala watching on as he was preparing to take on the race at the 2018 Gaborone International Meet. PC: Phodiso Gaebepe.

BY: Katlego Mechidi

Isaac Makwala’s achievements so far are a true definition that diligence is the mother of good fortune, without a shadow of a doubt he had a great year and is in an untouchable form that even the blind can see his class.

Regardless of the challenges brought forth by the Covid-19 which buried the sports activities for almost one and half years in Botswana, the ambitious Makwala never let that be the stumbling block but rather he came stronger than ever, dominating the youngers.

MAKWALA DOMINATED LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRACK EVENTS

Since the beginning of the year, the 34-year-old talented sprinter competed in various track events both locally and internationally in 200meters and 400meters where he dominated despite his age. Makwala told the media that it is nothing but just a number.

The experienced quarter-miler won left, right, and center this year and ran some of the impressive times in almost all the events he was part of which earned him a slot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.

The 400m specialist is in fine form as he won numerous 400m titles which include BAA Inter zonal meet, Botswana Championships, and ORLEN Janusz Kusocinsk memorial which was held in Poland.

Makwala also won some 200m Gold medals including CGA Championships, ACNW Open T&F Meeting held at South Africa, BAA Series Meet, Botswana Championships held at National Stadium, and FBK Games at the Netherlands.

MAKWALA POWERS 4X400 BOTSWANA RELAY TEAM

The reigning Commonwealth Games 400m champion also powered the country’s 4X400m relay team to a bronze medal at the World Relays in Poland which qualified the team for the upcoming Olympic Games.

“When you have someone like Makwala in the team, it motivates us. When we see him run good times, it’s inspiring”, his teammate Leungo Scotch told the media.

The Veteran sprinter qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the 400m category where he qualified after recording an impressive 44.66 seconds during the Botswana National Athletics Championships held at the National Stadium on the 16th of May this year.

MAKWALA POSSES A SEASON BEST OF 44.47

Makwala is heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with an impressive form and with a season-best time of 44.47 seconds which he obtained at a track and field meet in Poland on the 20th of June this year.

With his impressive form, Makwala is a medal hopeful for Botswana which still boasts only one Olympic medal courtesy of Nijel Amos’s 2012 London heroics.

Katlego Mechidi

Katlego Mechidi is young and upcoming SPORTSNATION Corespondent.He majors in football reporting and athletics.Katlego`s unique talent and passion about sports media has landed him the first gig in SPORTSNATION to kickstart his career while still studying his BA HONOURS IN Broadcasting and Journalism.