by Deji Ogeyingbo
Muzala Samukonga got the impossible job done in the men’s 400m
What a men’s 400m final we witnessed. We knew it would be fast, but it blew our minds with the level of depth of the lineup and how that last 100m unfolded. And while Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and USA’s Quincy Hall got all of the plaudits, it was Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga who, out of nowhere, finished the last 100 like a bullet train, snagged Bronze in that epic final.
Samukonga is one of those athletes who defy the laws of how the 400m should be run. The one-lap event is generally regarded as the most difficult to run in all of track and for obvious reasons. You can’t run too fast from the start, or you will burn out and struggle to finish your race. On the flip side, you can’t run too slow, or you run the risk of being left in your blocks.
In this Olympic final, we saw different tactics from all eight runners. Jereem Richards, who is predominantly a 200m runner and running from lane nine, decided to take the race head-on as he didn’t have anyone on his inside to pace with. He ran fourth in the end in a new National Record of 43.78s.
But all of the action came in lanes 5, 6 and 7. More particularly in seven was Samukonga, famed for running the sting out of his opponents in a new Personal Best of 43.74s to tie third in a race that saw five men run under 44 seconds in the final. There was an inclination the Zambian had to run faster than the 43.81s he clocked in the Semifinals.
It all didn’t start here for Samukonga.
The world first took notice of Samukonga at the African Championships in 2022, where he was initially seen as a one-hit wonder. However, he soon proved his prowess by becoming the Commonwealth Games Champion. This marked the beginning of an upward trajectory in his career as he made significant strides on the international stage.
The following year, he started to improve as he ran a scorching 43.91 in an early meet in Gaborone. That set the tone for the rest of his career.
Samukonga’s performance in Gaborone can be summed up in a few powerful words: “Stretching yourself to the limits.” This phrase encapsulates the essence of elite sport, where athletes push beyond their boundaries to achieve new heights. The 400m is often regarded as one of the most challenging sprints due to its physical demands on competitors, making Samukonga’s achievement even more impressive.
At just 20 years old, Samukonga’s relentless drive and signature performances have earned him titles as both African and Commonwealth Champion. His consistently delivering outstanding performances in high-stakes competitions highlights his potential to leave a lasting legacy in the sport. As he continues to push his limits, the athletics world eagerly watches the rise of this exceptional talent.
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