After the Rio famine, Tokyo feast beckons
Mqondisi Dube | Friday August 26, 2016 14:38
The good
There were bright sparks in Brazil sandwiched between frustrating moments. Karabo Sibanda was the gentle beast who appeared to provide long-term answers as the 18-year-old was involved in two lung bursting races in the finals.
He went to Rio largely unnoticed despite his heroics up in Poland during the Junior World Championships where he made away with a silver medal in the 400m.
Sibanda has largely lived under the shadow of his quicker counterpart, Baboloki Thebe since the dastardly devastating duo emerged on the scene with some powerful runs during the Africa Youth Games, which Botswana hosted in 2014. The two are under 19 years of age and a bright future lies ahead. They can only blossom from now on, setting a tantalising prospect for the Tokyo Olympic Games four years from now.
While Thebe’s progress in Rio was brought to a shattering end by injury, Sibanda’s star soared after he reached the finals of the 400m as well as leading the 4x400m relay team to the finals. Sibanda, making his Olympics debut, and the relay team finished fifth and just missed out on a podium finish. Sibanda set personal best of 44.25 while the relay team smashed the national record after crossing the line in 2.59.06, eclipsing the previous mark of 2.59.95 set at the World Championships in China last year.
Experienced former African 400m champion and record holder, Isaac Makwala recovered from the disappointment of finishing last in the semi finals to spark medal hopes when he handed the baton to Sibanda in pole position ahead of powerhouses, the United States and Jamaica.
Thebe, despite being hindered by an injury, had already reached the semi finals when the recurring knock ruled him out. The 19-year-old went to Brazil as the world’s fastest Under-20 400m runner while he had the best fourth time of 2016 for all categories.
Young swimmer, David van der Colff, making his Olympics debut, finished a commendable third in his heat and set a personal best of 57.77 in the 100m backstroke, although he finished 35th overall.
The bad
Botswana’s medal hopeful, Nijel Amos, just like Amantle Montsho four years ago, faltered. Amos had been tipped for a podium finish after he announced his arrival on the big stage with a surprise silver medal in London in 2012. Eyes were on Montsho, but then, a raw, relatively unknown Marobela born 18-year-old strode to the silver medal. The nation was made to believe that four years later in Rio, Amos would better his achievement and claim the country’s first Olympic Games gold medal. But he fizzled and finished seventh in the heats amid concerns over his fitness. Amos confirmed that he has a niggling injury and together with Thebe, will be off to Italy for rehabilitation and treatment respectively. Despite concerns over fitness, critics argued Amos was not mentally ready for the Rio challenge, where perennial opponent, David Rudisha appeared mean and lean. Questions are being raised if Amos carries the will and power to conquer the best at the world’s biggest sporting competition. While he is only 22, time might quickly slip away particularly that he will turn 26 when he arrives in Japan in four years time. The other depressing factor is that Makwala, who has done well in low pressure competitions, would be 34 at the next Olympics.
The big match temperament appears to desert Makwala on the big stage. The next year is critical in giving direction where the aging, late bloomer is headed.
One of the country’s most decorated runner, Montsho, largely recognised as the woman who thrust Botswana into world limelight after becoming a 400m world champion in 2011, does not have time on her side.
She only recently returned from a two-year ban for using a prohibited substance and is not seen running beyond the World Championships next year. Injuries and fitness blighted the Rio campaign and there will be concerns over Thebe. He has shown glimpses of being a world beater but injuries might halt his progress.
The last lap disappointment
The 4x400m team had raised the nation’s hope going into the finals after a stellar run in the Samsung Diamond League race in Doha early this year yielded gold. The powerful run announced the team to the world, as it was their first participation in a Diamond League meet. But the bubble cruelly burst when, after staying ahead, then second for much of the race, Leaname Maotoanong did not have the legs to carry him across the finish line as the team could manage fifth place after a fiery start.
Critics immediately argued, had Karabo Sibanda, who was the fastest runner of the quartet, anchored, the result could have been different. However, when the team won gold in Doha, although the Diamond League is a lesser competition to the Olympics, Maotoanong had successfully anchored.
The future
After the Rio famine, the Tokyo feast beckons with the right approach. The government was lauded for releasing funds much earlier for Rio preparations and the team cannot blame its barren run on inadequate preparations. The platform has been set with critical competitions like the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships and the All Africa Games sandwiched in between.
The relay team, Sibanda, Thebe and Amos offer sufficient hope for golden moments in Tokyo. But as Rio 2016 proved, history counts for nothing. The nation will find solace in that young runners, Thebe ranked the best junior runner while Sibanda is second, a mouth watering prospect for the future. Amos, despite a forgettable performance in Rio is only 22 and he can only get better.