Bank of Namibia has officially presented Olympic sprinter Frank Fredericks with a 1996 commemorative silver coin, completing a 30-year tribute to his achievements.
Bank of Namibia (BoN) spokesperson Naufiku Hamunime says the commemorative silver coin was minted in Fredericks’ honour in 1996, and the bank finally formally presented the former athlete with the coin on 31 July.
The presentation, held in partnership with the Namibia National Olympic Committee to honour 30 years since Fredericks’ historic achievements at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, was not the launch of a new coin.
It rather marked the formal handover of the original N$10 Olympic commemorative silver non-circulating legal tender coin, minted and issued by the bank in 1996 in recognition of Fredericks’ extraordinary contribution to Namibian sport and his achievements on the international stage.
BoN governor Ebson Uanguta at the handover said: “The bank’s first-ever commemorative currency honoured Fredericks, reflecting the significance of his achievements to Namibia’s history.
“The coin was deliberately struck in silver to symbolise the Olympic silver medals Fredericks won, while its design features a cheetah representing speed, determination and resilience, alongside Namibia’s coat of arms as a symbol of national pride and identity.”
He said Fredericks remains Namibia’s most-decorated Olympian and the country’s first Olympic medallist.
“His four Olympic silver medals, won across the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, inspired a generation of Namibians and firmly established the country on the global sporting stage.”
Uanguta said 30 years later, Fredericks’ legacy continues to embody excellence, perseverance and national pride.
In its invitation to Fredericks, the bank said Fredericks’ second-place finishes in the men’s 100m and 200m at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, followed by a further two silver medals in the same events at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, established him among the foremost sprinters of his generation.
“Beyond the medals themselves, your career has come to represent discipline, resilience and sustained excellence. Your achievements continue to inspire generations of Namibians and remain an enduring source of national pride,” deputy BoN governor Nickolas Mukasa said.
