21 Sep 2016

Botswana's only paralympian, Keatlaretse Mabote  arrived home on September 20 from Brazil, where he competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Mabote finished third, in 400m T12 in the heat event recording his Personal Best of 51.33.

Mabote's coach, Raj Rathedi said they had challenges in their preparations ahead of Rio.

However, he said they forgot about those challenges and focused in the games. 

“The idea was for him to clock his Personal Best, and I am happy we achieved that, because he finished third with a PB of 51.33,” he said.

According to Rathedi, they could have done better than clocking a PB only, but the athletes had a bad start because he forgot to adjust the starting blocks, adding had he done that he could have qualified for the next round of the competition.

The coach said he was proud of Mabote, because he learns and takes instructions very well, and with good preparations he would go places.

Furthermore, the coach said their focus was now the world champions, which would be held next year.

“I have spoken to coach Justice Dipeba. He will be now joining UB athletics club, so Mabote will have two weeks rest, then he will have off-season training with the club,” he said.

He said the advantage of UB athletics club, was that they had a psychologist, good gym room and top coaches.

He said despite the fact that he competed in the Paralympics, his ability does not need any special coach, adding any coach in Botswana could coach him given that he had been training with other athletes ahead of the Olympics.

However, Mabote said his intention was to record a PB in the competition, adding that he was the first athlete in Botswana to compete at the Paralympic in 400m T12, and he had learnt a lot during the games.

He said if people living with disability in sport could be given more support by all relevant stakeholders they could do better in different competitions.

The last time Botswana won a Paralympic Games medal was in 2004 in Athens, when Tshotlego Morama won a gold medal in the 400metres T46 category with a World Record of 55.99.

Morama was a single representative in 2008, but managed to finish first in heat one with 57.09 to proceed to the finals. Ends