Seabata Mahao
Long-distance runner Tebello Ramakongoana missed out on a possible Olympic medal due to a hamstring injury that hindered his performance in the 42 kilometre (km) marathon at the recently concluded 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Despite the setback, Ramakongoana made history by finishing seventh, and setting a new national record with a time of 2:07:58 hours.
The marathon began with a slow start for Ramakongoana, who found himself in 60th place at the 5km mark and 70th at 10km. However, he steadily improved his pace and reached third place by the 15km mark. By the halfway point, he was in 14th place but managed to finish seventh in a highly competitive field.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola won gold with a new Olympic record time of 2:06:26, surpassing the previous record set in the 2008 Beijing Games. Ramakongoana finished just 58 seconds behind Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, who claimed the bronze medal.
In a post-race interview, Ramakongoana reflected on his performance, noting that a hamstring issue three weeks before the Games had limited his potential.
“I tried my best, but I wasn’t expecting this result. I aimed for a top-five or top-three finish. My hamstring problem was a setback, but I managed to finish strong despite the pain,” he said.
In addition to Ramakongoana, Lesotho was represented by Michelle Tau and Mokulubete Makatisi at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Makatisi achieved a personal best of 2:30:20, finishing 31st in the women’s marathon. Despite a fluctuating performance early in the race, she improved significantly, reaching 27th place at the 40km mark before finishing 31st.
“The race was challenging, with steep climbs and tough descents,” Makatisi said. “I’m pleased with my performance given the difficult conditions and am motivated to continue improving.”
Michelle Tau competed in taekwondo and finished 11th in her weight category. Although she was knocked out in the round of 16, Tau expressed gratitude for the support she received. “I’m disappointed not to have won a medal, but I’m proud of my performance and thankful for everyone who supported me, especially my mother,” she said. Tau plans to focus on upcoming competitions, including the Grand Prix Final 2024 and World Championships 2025.
Despite not winning medals, the performances of Ramakongoana, Makatisi, and Tau have inspired hope for future success. The athletes will be honored in an official ceremony soon. Ramakongoana and Makatisi returned to Lesotho on Tuesday, welcomed by the Minister of Sports, Motlatsi Maqelepo, at Moshoeshoe I International Airport, while Tau has returned to Spain to continue her preparations.
Lesotho’s participation in taekwondo and athletics at the Olympics demonstrates the country’s potential for success in future Games, with the next opportunity for glory set for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
