By Gary Lemke.
@ RogerSedres.
Puseletso Mabote cut a distraught figure as he attempted to digest his run in the final of the men’s T63 100m at the 2024 Paralympics inside the Stade de France on Monday night.
Mabote, who had equalled the Paralympic record of 12.05sec in Sunday’s heats, had gone into the final with a lot of expectation given his performance of 24 hours earlier. But confidence and youth are bed partners, which is why the 19-year-old was so disconsolate after finishing fifth in 12.16sec, with gold going to Ezra Frech of the United States in 12.06.
In other words, Mabote ran a faster time in the heats than Frech did in winning the gold medal. So, the disappointment is understandable. But, he will come again.
Mabote seemed to wobble slightly coming out of the blocks, but pull himself into contention at halfway. However, when he called for the after-burners they weren’t there and he had to settle for fifth. We need to be reminded that he is still only 19 and at school. This was his second Paralympics, he broke the African record in the long jump and he then equalled the Games record in the T63 100m.
That is a huge accomplishment for a teenager and he still has the potential to go on and become a gold medallist in Los Angeles in four years time.
“It just wasn’t my day. It was a stacked field. Everybody got out and I didn’t expect that. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, it’s too early to say. I will go back home and write my prelims and see what happens after that.”
ATHLETICS
Women’s 200m, T64 first round (10.36am): Tezna Abrahams ran a personal best 31.17 in finishing 5th in her heat, but not progressing to the evening final
SWIMMING
Men’s 100m backstroke, S7 heats: Christian Sadie finished 3rd in his heat in 1:14.82 and progressed to the evening final sixth fastest, but only 0.45sec off third place.
Men’s 200m IM, SM13 heats: Nathan Hendricks finished 4th in his heat in 2:18.36, which qualified him 8th for the evening final
Women’s 50m backstroke, S5 heats: Kat Swanepoel produced an African record 49.63sec but missed out on a place in the final.