A blue, black and white flag is raised high among other two foreign flags. An African man stands on the middle podium with a gold medal around his neck, as he sings his national anthem with pride and joy.
Early Life
On the podium stands non other than the pride of Botswana, a young Motswana who is Botswana’s 400 and 200 meters sprinter by the name Isaac ‘Badman ‘Makwala. Badman as he calls himself , was born on Tuesday 24 September 1985. He is the son of a kalanga father by the name Wonderful Makwala. Badman was born in the beautiful village of Tutume located in the heart of Botswana .Isaac’s life story is more than just an inspirational story but a story which is full of heartbreaks .
When growing up young Makwala has not only won the hearts of his family members and friends but of the entire world his home country Botswana included too . He started running while he was in Mpape primary school and he always left people around him amazed by his talent , the star later studied at Pandagala secondary school where he continued with his running career but football had won the star’s heart .
Destiny
One wise man once said ‘no man writes his destiny and no man can change his destiny ‘indeed this is true, looking at Isaac’s success story, what looked like a heartbreaking moment when his colleague went to senior school to further their studies and he was not fortunate enough to make it to senior school but his destiny took him to what he was born for .
Isaac the went to study at Nswazwi Brigade, what started off as a carpentry course changed the legend’s life .There is always a light at the end of the tunnel , what seemed like a dark phase in the star’s life completely changed when met a man who was sent by God to change his heartbreaking story by the name Zibani Molopo who happened to be a lecturer at Nswazwi Brigade. Isaac’s dis had him signed by Molopo as a national athlete and by the year 2005 .
His Achievements
He made history in July 14 2017, when he became the first man in history to run 200 meters within 20 seconds and 400 meters within 44 seconds on the same day . Having scored 43.93 in 400 meters and 19.77 in 200 meters .His personal best time is 43.72 set on July 2015 in La Chaux -de-fonds ranking him number 8 internationally being the fastest non-American runner.
The star has won 9 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 2 bronze medals internationally , which he obtained in the following games ;
African championships being gold in the year 2012 in Port Nova after running 400 meters , gold in Marrakesh in 2014 , silver in Addis Ababa in 2008 after competing in 400 meters , silver in Nairobi Kenya after competing in 400 by 400 meters relay and silver in Marrakesh in 2014 after running 200 meters .
He also competed in the African Games obtaining gold in Algiers in 2007 after competing in 400 by 400 meters relay, gold in 2015 in Brazzaville in 400 meter and silver in Brazzaville 400 by 400 meters relay.
The legend also won gold in the commonwealth games, gold in the 2018 gold coast after competing in the 400 by 400 meters relay, silver in Nassau in 400 by 400 meters relay and his last medal was an Olympic medal being a bronze medal after obtaining it in Tokyo 2020 Olympics in a 400 meters by 400 meters relay.
Conclusion
Success is not an overnight thing and no matter what one experiences in life one should not give up, Isaac Makwala’s story is a motivational story which one should look up too when facing difficulties in life. Makwala is not only an athlete but he is also a farmer what he earns from his career as runner he has invested it in farming and it is what started his farming .They say distance is not a barrier this what the star’s story is saying a young man who grew up in the kalanga side far from the city lights is now an internationally recognized athlete. This is indeed a sportsman who have created history.
By: Lebogang Polite Nthabaye
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