25 Jul 2021

Botswana swimmer, James Freeman, has bowed out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He finished eighth  after clocking  4:03.10  in the men’s 400m freestyle  and sixth with a time of 1:52.87 in the 200 metre free style over the weekend.

Freeman started well in the 400m freestyle, but as the race progressed, it was evident that the Tokyo Aquatics Centre swimming pool was too big and water seemed too much for him to handle.

However, his fans would take solace from the fact that the swimmer was making his Olympics debut and age was still on his side.

In an interview, Sunday Standard sport editor, Botlhale Koothopile was of the view that Freeman’s Olympic debut was not his best performance.

“When he looks back at his performance, he will not be happy.

His 4:03.10 at the Olympics is way below his personal best of 3:53.18, which he did at the South African National Championships in 2019,” he said.

Koothopile stated that had Freeman clocked a time similar to his PB, he could have finished at position four at most.

He, however, said there was no shame or blame in his performance, especially if one considered his age and the stage he was performing in.

“At 20 years and making his Olympic debut, this was a learning curve for the youngster.

Like Magdalene Moyengwa, who is also 20 years, they would have been taken to the Olympics with one eye on the future,” he said.

Again, he said the platform had given Freeman a taste and experience of what it felt like to compete at the grandest stage and against the best in the world.

“One must hasten to say looking at Freeman’s progression over the past three years, there is a great potential that he will do better and may bring Botswana a swimming medal at world stage,” he said. ENDS