Frankie Fredericks - 100m & 200m

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Frankie Fredericks was the first and is still the only Olympic medalist of his country.

Born in Windhoek, Frankie was awarded a scholarship at Brigham Young University in the U.S. in 1987. In 1991, after his country had become independent of South Africa, Fredericks could participate in international competition. At the World Championships that year, Fredericks won a silver medal in the 200 m, finishing behind Michael Johnson, and placed 5th in the 100 m.

The following year, at the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics, Fredericks became Namibia's first Olympic medalist when he finished second in both the 100 m and 200 m. In 1993, in Stuttgart, he became the nation's first World Champion, winning the 200 m.

In the 1994 Commonwealth Games, he won gold in the 200 m and bronze in the 100 m.

In the 1995 World Championships 100 m, after crossing the line he immediately went to help his friend Linford Christie who pulled a muscle in the race and signalled for help. This act of kindness endeared him to many (particularly British) athletics fans.

For the 1996 Summer Olympics, Fredericks was among the title favourites for both the 100 m and 200 m. He reached both finals, and again finished second in both. In the 100 m, he was beaten by Donovan Bailey, who set a new World Record, and in the 200 m he was beaten by Michael Johnson, who also set a new World Record.

In the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Frankie once again missed out on the chance of gold in the 100 m; he was beaten by Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago.

Suffering from injuries, Fredericks had to withdraw from the 1999 and 2001 World Championships and the 2000 Summer Olympics. In the 200 m final at the 2004 Summer Olympics he finished 4th.

By the end of 2004's outdoor season, Fredericks resigned his active career.

He has run the 100m under 10 seconds 27 times, number four on the all-time list behind Trinidadian Ato Boldon, Jamaica's Asafa Powell and American Maurice Greene.

April 2008