By Noah Silomba
……………as Zambia Athletics president Elias Mpondela says the medal inspires his executive and the sports fraternity.
Flamboyant Zambian sprinter Muzala Samukonga has ended Zambia’s medal drought at the Olympics after clinching the bronze medal in the 400m final race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Samukonga speaking from Paris, France described the race as tough stating that it was very competitive but thanked God for the bronze medal he minted.
He added that being the first time at the Olympics and subsequently winning a bronze medal is a huge achievement he dreamt of.
‘What I can say is that I am super excited, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting the [win] but after entering the [track and field] I told myself that I can do this and nobody can stop me. I want to thank the almighty God for making it possible for me. [It wasn’t an easy race], first time at the Olympics and I am in the medal brackets it means a lot for me and I am sure everyone back home is proud of me’ he said.
Muzala clocked 43.75s in the 400m final race to settle for bronze setting a new personal best and national record. The gold medal was won by Quincy Hall of the USA who clocked 43.40s while the silver medal went to Mathew Hudson Smith of Great Britain who clocked 43.44s.
Zambia last won an Olympic medal 28 years ago when retired track and field athlete Samuel Matete won a silver medal in 400m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta games. Boxer Keith Spinks Mwila also won a bronze medal in Boxing in 1984 which brings Zambia’s total medals at the Olympics to 3.
Meanwhile, Zambia Athletics president Elias Mpondela says a lot has to be invested in sports if athletes are to continue minting medals at these prestigious games.
Mpondela says without adequate funding for sport and proper sporting infrastructure no athlete will manage to mint medals at high-level competition adding that the skill exhibited by Samukonga is beyond normal and must be appreciated and supported.
Mpondela has disclosed that the association is currently working on identifying athletes from other provinces who will be nurtured and become the next Muzala Samukonga. He says ZA is inspired by the medal the athlete brings back home which has not been won in recent years.
He paid gratitude to the government, National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), OYDC Zambia, Zambia National Service (ZNS), and others for their continued support in developing sports in the country from the grassroots to the elite level.
And Mpondela says the focus now is on the 4×400 relay team which will be stepping on the track this Friday saying the boys stand a chance of minting a medal for Zambia.
