08 Mar 2016

Baboloki Thebe's qualification to Rio is a peculiar case in the sense that despite qualifying for 400 metres, he specialises in both 100 and 200 metres.

On Saturday March 6, he shocked spectators when he gambled by running with Botswana's  400 metres crème-de la-crème, Isaac Makwala and Karabo Sibanda in Private Tertiary Institution Association athletics championship meet held at the University of Botswana on Saturday.

He hit the finish line first, in the event recording 42:23,whereas Makwala and Sibanda finished on position two and three respectively.

Although a lot of people were stunned by Thebe's performance on Saturday, University of Botswana sport psychology, sociology of sport and track and field lecture, Dr Tshepang Tshube said his performance did not surprise him at all. 

He said Thebe was a very young, smart, and talented athlete, adding that his talent was always augmented profoundly by his confidence and mental toughness to take on any athlete.

Dr Tshube further said the fact that Baboloki is a 100 and 200m sprinter and has qualified for the Olympics in a 400m race was a demonstration of talent in Thebe, adding it was therefore important for him and his coach to revisit their goals and priorities. 

“This is great feedback to their work. The most likely decision is to focus on 400m and prepare the athlete for the Olympic Games coming in a few months”, he said

According to Dr Tshube .Baboloki's scenario was not new in Botswana track and field, given that Obakeng Ngwigwa started in 100 and 200m and later moved to 400m, and he managed to win the World Junior Championship bronze medal. 

He however said he had confidence in Baboloki's coach that he would discuss with the athlete and decide on the best move.Botswana Athletics Association president Moses Bantsi, said his association was very happy by his performance and they have been expecting it.

He said both the coach and the athletes have been working on the 400 metres, because they had a very strong believe all along that he could run 400 m well, hence the coach was focusing more on that category adding that now their hard work was now paying dividends.

He said,  when they proposed to Botswana National Olympic Committe to help young athletes to qualify for Rio, they had faith in them that they will make it to the Olympics.

Furthermore, he said the BAA still expects Thebe to qualify for the 200 metres, “ in events like Olympics you are only allowed to three athletes per event, so as BAA were very grateful and humbled that we managed to reach three in 400 metres”, he said.

He also thanked Private Tertiary Institution Association for finding it prudent to follow all the procedures for their championships to be sanctioned by BAA, given had they hosted the races without BAA authorisation, Thebe's hardwork was not going to be recognised by the IAAF. ENDS