08 Aug 2016

Botswana started on a very somber note at the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

On July 6, the first Botswana representative in Judo, Gavin Mogopa lost 110-000 against the Czech Republican Pavel Petrikov in the 60 kg category booting him out the competition. 

On Sunday, Botswana swimmer David Van Der Coff finished on position three in the 100 metres Back Stroke recording a Person Best of 57.77.

Although he finished on third spot, his time was not fast enough, to go through the semi-finals. 

His performance in his debut at the Olympics is surely something to write home about.

Although the swimmer was so relaxed and confident, his coach Randy Horner should work on his endurance.

Van Der Coff said in an interview that the competition was different than any other, adding that the magnitude of the event was overwhelming. 

The competition, he said gave him the opportunity to see where he ranked in the world and what he had to do in order to win a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“I am so glad I was given this amazing opportunity and would like to thank the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, and the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) for their support,” he said.

Commenting on the duo’s  performances, BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho who is in Rio with athletes, said the athletes gave a good account of themselves. “We appreciate the fact that the two athletes gave their all, and competed the best way they could. We had always known that it would not be easy for them at the Olympic Games, but in deciding to give them the opportunity, we had a futuristic outlook,” he said.

Both athletes are still under the age of 20, and in four years’ time, he said they should had reached their prime and should qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the two athletes made it to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games courtesy of the wild card arrangement, which the International Olympic Committee uses to ensure that the Olympic Games are truly universal.

Under the wild card arrangement, athletes are selected from countries which would not be having any athletes that have qualified for a single game on their own or countries with very few athletes at the games. 

The current qualifying standards for the BNOC states that the board reserves the right to accept or reject wild card offer in respect of athletes under the auspices of the organisation. 

To minimise subjectivity in deciding on the wild card, BNOC has included in the qualification standards, criteria for consideration of wild cards.

The criteria is that for an athlete to be eligible, they should be under  20 years and should at least have won medals at regional competitions. Ends