Frank Fredericks in last bid for gold

NAMIBIAN sprint master, Frank Fredericks, will today launch his most likely last bid for an Olympic gold medal when he competes in 200 metres heats.

Fredericks made an exit in the second round of the 100 metres, finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 10.17 seconds on Saturday. Earlier, he ran a season-best 10.12 to win his morning heat.The sprinter’s distinguished career will be put to the ultimate test today in his specialist 200m race, when he is expected to first qualify for the second round and the semi-finals before he can have a go at the gold medal in Thursday’s finals.The Namibian is currently considered as a medal hopeful on track, after both Christie van Wyk (100m) and Agnes Samaria (800m), fell out in their respective races.Fredericks won Olympic silvers in the 100 and 200 races in 1992 and 1996 in both Barcelona and Atlanta respectively, but could not compete during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney due to an injury.Athletics Namibia official, Hannes von Holtz told The Namibian Sport that Fredericks has what it takes to end up in the final of the 200m event.”I think that he has a good chance.He did good to take part in the 100m and if he can keep the speed he had, especially at the start, he will make it to the final and even a medal is possible.Dont write him off yet,” said Von Holtz.The biggest rival for Fredericks will be Shawn Crawford from the USA and Francis Obekwelu from Portugal, while the rest of the field is open for anybody to make an impact.Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) President, Tony Britz, said Fredericks should end his career on a high note by bringing gold to Namibia.Asked how realistic that could be, Britz said he believed in the abilities of the athlete and was certain that Fredericks will raise to the occasion.”I am counting on him to be in the final and I am talking about gold here,”said Britz.Fredericks hopes to inspire the people of his country to take up track and field, according to the Associated Press.”I’m really happy I could come here and run a season’s best,” Fredericks said earlier on Saturday.”It’s always nice to open up well in a tough heat.I didn’t want to be the one going home,” he said after he won the 100 metre heat.”We are here at the biggest showcase for sports in the world and we are here to represent our countries,” he said.”Whether you win a medal, at the end of the day it’s nice for people to watch and see a person of their own.”The 36-year-old Fredericks had this to say to Reuters after winning his heat in the 100m: “It’s not about age it’s about the Olympic Games.*Meanwhile, Namibian light-flyweight boxer, Joseph Hilongwa will also step into the ring against Russia’s Sergey Kazakov today, after he succeeded to go past the first round as he knocked out Australia’s Peter Wakefield.Hilongwa will fight from 17h00, Namibian time.Earlier, he ran a season-best 10.12 to win his morning heat.The sprinter’s distinguished career will be put to the ultimate test today in his specialist 200m race, when he is expected to first qualify for the second round and the semi-finals before he can have a go at the gold medal in Thursday’s finals.The Namibian is currently considered as a medal hopeful on track, after both Christie van Wyk (100m) and Agnes Samaria (800m), fell out in their respective races.Fredericks won Olympic silvers in the 100 and 200 races in 1992 and 1996 in both Barcelona and Atlanta respectively, but could not compete during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney due to an injury.Athletics Namibia official, Hannes von Holtz told The Namibian Sport that Fredericks has what it takes to end up in the final of the 200m event.”I think that he has a good chance.He did good to take part in the 100m and if he can keep the speed he had, especially at the start, he will make it to the final and even a medal is possible.Dont write him off yet,” said Von Holtz.The biggest rival for Fredericks will be Shawn Crawford from the USA and Francis Obekwelu from Portugal, while the rest of the field is open for anybody to make an impact.Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) President, Tony Britz, said Fredericks should end his career on a high note by bringing gold to Namibia.Asked how realistic that could be, Britz said he believed in the abilities of the athlete and was certain that Fredericks will raise to the occasion.”I am counting on him to be in the final and I am talking about gold here,”said Britz.Fredericks hopes to inspire the people of his country to take up track and field, according to the Associated Press.”I’m really happy I could come here and run a season’s best,” Fredericks said earlier on Saturday.”It’s always nice to open up well in a tough heat.I didn’t want to be the one going home,” he said after he won the 100 metre heat.”We are here at the biggest showcase for sports in the world and we are here to represent our countries,” he said.”Whether you win a medal, at the end of the day it’s nice for people to watch and see a person of their own.”The 36-year-old Fredericks had this to say to Reuters after winning his heat in the 100m: “It’s not about age it’s about the Olympic Games.*Meanwhile, Namibian light-flyweight boxer, Joseph Hilongwa will also step into the ring against Russia’s Sergey Kazakov today, after he succeeded to go past the first round as he knocked out Australia’s Peter Wakefield.Hilongwa will fight from 17h00, Namibian time.