03 Aug 2016

Although Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has announced that their target is to win only  two medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, indications are that the country might see more medal hauls given the quality of represantation at the games.

  One of the country’s medal prospect is 800 metres runner Nijel Amos. 

Although he had a rough season, he knows what it takes to finish at the podium. He did that at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In fact, he had warned competitors not to judge him by Diamond League races and his coach Jean Vester once told BOPA that Amos would not defend his Diamond League title as their focus was Olympics.

The athlete told BOPA that he was aware that Botswana would be celebrating silver Jubilee in September and medal from the Olympics would be an icing on the cake.

Without doubt, Amos is the favourite to deliver a medal for the country. If he managed to do that in 2012 with little experience what would stop him from delivering a medal when the country needs it more than before. 

In 400 metres race, all eyes will be on the wonder kid, Baboloki  Thebe despite being disqualified in the final for lane infringement at the IAAF U20 World Championships held in Bydgoszcz after clocking 44.26 seconds. He is one to watch at the Olympics.

He is on a class of his own and has proved that by recording a split of 43.5 to help the Botswana 4x400m relay win a silver medal at the World Championships.

What might come in handy for Thebe is that he has a very strong character and he will not be intimidated by top athletes such as Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, Kiran James of Grenada nor LaShawn Merritt of USA.

Should he make it to the final, then Batswana should prepare themselves to beat the drums and hooters to celebrate his medal.

Another hungry athlete who might bring back the medal is Isaac Makwala. Forget that he is always let down by his finishing technique as he carries in himself enough experience to draw from when the going gets tough. And he knows it is now or never for him.

One thing that might help Makwala is that he has competed with all 400 metres’ favourites for a very long time. 

He knows their strengths and their weakness, and it is now time to strike and capitalise on their weaknesses.

He is also a medal prospect, although he admitted that his preparations did not go well given that he trained for a long time without his coach. 

At the back of his mind he knows that Batswana will be banking on him to show the youngsters amongst them Thebe, Karabo Sibanda and Onkabetse Nkobolo how pressure is handled at the bigger stages.

The 4x400m men’s relay team is made up of Thebe, Makwala, Sibanda, Nkobolo, Amos and Leaname Maotoanong. If coaches Justice Dipeba and Mogomotsi Otsetswe can get their formula right, surely the relay team is in a good position to increase, Botswana medal standing.

 Athletics competition starts on August 12, with Amos and Boitumelo Masilo representing the country in 800 metres followed by Thebe, Sibanda, and Makwala in the 400 metres. ENDS