Meet your Namibian athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

JUNIAS JONAS Sports code: BoxingAge: 27The Swakopmund boxer burst to prominence by winning a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and followed up by claiming a remarkable gold medal four years later in Gold Coast, Australia. Junias will be focused on improving on his unfortunate 2016 Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, when he was eliminated in the first round of competition.PHILLIP SEIDLERSports code: Open water swimming (10 km)Age: 24The Swakopmund prodigy achieved his goal of becoming Namibia’s first Olympic open water swimmer, when he claimed the hard-fought continental spot at the global qualifying event held in Setubal, Portugal. Seidler will be one of only 15 swimmers on the starting line in Tokyo and one of three African representatives.HELALIA JOHANNESSports code: Marathon runningAge: 41Holds the Namibian records in the 10 km, 20 km, half marathon and marathon events. At 39 years of age, she became a World Championships bronze medallist in the marathon in 2019 in Doha, Qatar. She is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, after winning gold in 2018 at the Gold Coast in Australia. This will be her fourth appearance at the Olympics, with 12th place at London 2012 her best result so far.TOMAS RAINHOLDSports code: Marathon runningAge: 30In 2019, the Namibian Correctional Services athlete competed in the men's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He finished in 17th place. He set his personal best at 2:10:24 in Siena, Italy, earlier this year to become the country first male Olympic marathon qualifier since Luketz Swartbooi (1992 and 2000).MAIKE DIEKMANNSports Code: Rowing (2 km)Age: 26The farm girl from Otjiwarongo has systematically honed her skills in rowing since being introduced to the sport while studying in South Africa. She has won the gold medal at African championships in order to achieve her goal of qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, after narrowly missing out four years previously.MICHELLE VORSTERSports code: Mountain bikingAge: 42As a late starter in the sport, Vorster became the first-ever Namibian female to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics cross-country mountain biking event, finishing in 26th place Rio de Janeiro. She booked her place for Tokyo by finishing as the best-placed nation behind South Africa at the African championship held in Windhoek – completing a remarkable comeback after being hit by a car during a training ride in 2019.ALEX MILLERSports code: Mountain bikingAge: 21The farm boy prodigy from Helmeringhausen achieved a bronze medal at the 2019 African championships in Windhoek to book a spot for Namibia in the Olympic men’s mountain biking race. However, he also had to fight off a fierce challenge from his compatriot Tristan de Lange before being confirmed as the Namibian selection. Miller lists Piet Swiegers and three-time Olympian Mannie Heymans among his mentors.DAN CRAVENSports code: Road cyclingAge: 38Craven is set to become a third-time Olympian, following previous appearances at London 2012 and Rio 2016. The former pro rider for teams like Europcar grew up on a farm near Omaruru and has over recent years been living in the USA with his family. The veteran fought off determined competition from his younger challengers during 2020 to be selected as Namibia’s representative in Tokyo.VERA LOOSERSports code: Road cyclingAge: 27She represented Namibia at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Looser won the national road cycling championship for the ninth time in ten years during February 2021, as well as her sixth title in the time trial. Her medal collection at African championships between 2013 and 2021 include two golds, one silver and six bronze.BEATRICE MASILINGISports code: AthleticsAge: 18The sprinting prodigy from Kavango region has been taking the world by storm over the last months. In April 2021, she ran 49.53 sec in the 400 metres – the third-fastest women’s under-20 time in history. At the same national championship, her wind-assisted 22.38 was also a clear indication what she is capable of in the 200. Masilingi and her training partner Christine Mboma have both flourished under the mentorship of their coach, Henk Botha from Grootfontein, and had an exciting series of performances in Europe.CHRISTINE MBOMAAge: 18Sports code: AthleticsMboma has already had an outstanding season – particularly in the 400. At the Namibian national championships in April 2021, she broke the 30-year-old under-20 world record (Grit Breuer of Germany, 49.42) and Namibian senior record with a blistering 49.22 run. This is still the second-fastest time in the world this year – beaten only by Olympic and world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo. Mboma could be an Olympic medal contender in the 400, while also qualifying for the 200. She set her personal best of 22.67 during her European debut in Prague on June 7.

Meet your Namibian athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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Meet your Namibian athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-22

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