Mboma, Masilingi the darlings of Namibia
Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, who made their debut at the Tokyo Olympic Games yesterday, qualified for the final of the women’s 200-metre race scheduled for 14:50 today.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
Namibian sprinters Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, who were disqualified in July from competing in the 400-metre Olympic race because of high levels of natural testosterone, are through to the finals of the 200 metres.
It is very rare indeed for Namibia and its athletes to make headlines on the international front, but Mboma and Masilingi have brought the whole nation pride and joy not seen since the days of former sprinter Frankie Fredericks.
Up there with the best
The two had local fans glued to their television screens and on the edge of their seats in the early hours of the morning.
Masilingi set two personal best times in the second heat and the semi-final. She ran a consistent race, clocking 22.63 seconds to finish second behind 2018 and 2012 100-metre Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. In the semi-final, she registered a time of 22.40.
On the other hand, Mboma finished first in heat four, running an impressive 22.11 seconds. Mboma was slow out of the blocks but, in her usual way, came from behind to beat one of the fastest women in the world over 200 metres, Gabriella Thomas of the United States.
In the semi-final, she set a time of 21.97 seconds, coming second behind Jamaica’s Ellaine Thompson-Herah. This means that Mboma twice broke Allyson Felix's under-20 world and Olympic records in one day. It also makes her the first African women to run sub-22 seconds in the women’s 200m.
History written
This is the first time in the history of Namibia that two able-bodied sprinters make it to the finals of the Olympics.
A congratulatory message came from Fredericks, who wrote: “Namibia now has both the male and female 200m African records.”
Fredericks is the world indoor record holder for the 200 metres, with a time of 19.92 seconds set in 1996. Fredericks broke the 20-second barrier in the 200m 24 times.
President glued to his Tv
The two athletes have ignited the spirit of sports in the country. So much so that President Hage Geingob, an avid Twitter user, posted that he stayed up to watch Masilingi and Mboma’s 200m first qualifying rounds. “Superb performance from both. We are proud,” he wrote.
He further responded to those who asked for a public holiday today just to celebrate the achievements of the finalist, “No, you can’t get a public holiday.”
What to expect
The final race is scheduled for 14:50 today. The hot favourites are Jamaica’s Ellaine Thompson-Herah, who just days ago bagged gold in the 100m, along with 100m silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland, Gabriella Thomas of the United States, and Marie Ta Lou from Côte d'Ivoire.
WINDHOEK
Namibian sprinters Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, who were disqualified in July from competing in the 400-metre Olympic race because of high levels of natural testosterone, are through to the finals of the 200 metres.
It is very rare indeed for Namibia and its athletes to make headlines on the international front, but Mboma and Masilingi have brought the whole nation pride and joy not seen since the days of former sprinter Frankie Fredericks.
Up there with the best
The two had local fans glued to their television screens and on the edge of their seats in the early hours of the morning.
Masilingi set two personal best times in the second heat and the semi-final. She ran a consistent race, clocking 22.63 seconds to finish second behind 2018 and 2012 100-metre Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. In the semi-final, she registered a time of 22.40.
On the other hand, Mboma finished first in heat four, running an impressive 22.11 seconds. Mboma was slow out of the blocks but, in her usual way, came from behind to beat one of the fastest women in the world over 200 metres, Gabriella Thomas of the United States.
In the semi-final, she set a time of 21.97 seconds, coming second behind Jamaica’s Ellaine Thompson-Herah. This means that Mboma twice broke Allyson Felix's under-20 world and Olympic records in one day. It also makes her the first African women to run sub-22 seconds in the women’s 200m.
History written
This is the first time in the history of Namibia that two able-bodied sprinters make it to the finals of the Olympics.
A congratulatory message came from Fredericks, who wrote: “Namibia now has both the male and female 200m African records.”
Fredericks is the world indoor record holder for the 200 metres, with a time of 19.92 seconds set in 1996. Fredericks broke the 20-second barrier in the 200m 24 times.
President glued to his Tv
The two athletes have ignited the spirit of sports in the country. So much so that President Hage Geingob, an avid Twitter user, posted that he stayed up to watch Masilingi and Mboma’s 200m first qualifying rounds. “Superb performance from both. We are proud,” he wrote.
He further responded to those who asked for a public holiday today just to celebrate the achievements of the finalist, “No, you can’t get a public holiday.”
What to expect
The final race is scheduled for 14:50 today. The hot favourites are Jamaica’s Ellaine Thompson-Herah, who just days ago bagged gold in the 100m, along with 100m silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Mujinga Kambundji of Switzerland, Gabriella Thomas of the United States, and Marie Ta Lou from Côte d'Ivoire.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article