02 May 2023

The just-ended FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix has, through the participation of renowned names, given aspiring professional athletes the much needed exposure as a precursor for the main event.

Those interviewed by BOPA appreciated the interraction with big names in the athletic world.

Tumo Van Wyk, who won the men’s 100m race with a time of 10:44, indicated that it was good for up-coming athletes like himself to participate in such a big stage to get accustomed to international competitions.

“Stage fright can be a challenge and can lead to poor performance even when one is well prepared for the race, and it is good that we get such good exposure at this early age,” he said.

Senyama Gaolape, who got position two in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:24:77, also welcomed the exposure and said it would come handy in the future when they participate in bigger stages in their careers.

“There is no doubt that this stage is as big as they may come, but the fact that we got exposure on home ground is good,” she said.

On if the home stage did not come with pressure from high expectations, Gaolape said that was not the case, and in fact, she enjoyed and appreciated the fans that cheered them to the finish line.

The 400m runner, Obakeng Kamberuka, who did 55:67, described the stage as a kind of grassroots development. 

He also said it would work well for the atheletes’ mental development. 

Like Van Wyk, Kamberuka believes that races were not just won on the track, but psychologically as well.

“Mental preparedness is as vital as physical preparedness, and introduction to big stages like this one is one way of preparing us mentally for the future,” he said.

Another sprinter, Nanogang Bonang, who did men’s 200m in 21:07, expressed hope that more big stage exposures like the Golden Grand Prix would come more often at an early stage in their career.

“We are a country known for athletics, especially sprints, so we would welcome more big stage exposures in order to help us deal with stage fright,” he said. ENDs