13 Mar 2024

Botswana Swimmer, Adrian Robinson, delivered a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke on Tuesday at the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana. Although the event was packed with experienced swimmers, Robinson showed a lot of maturity as he attacked where it mattered most to finish in position three with a Personal Best time of 28.28. Position one went to Jacuad Syooud of Algeria with 27.98 while Egyptian Yousseff Elkamash won silver with 28.27.

This was Robinson’s second bronze medal, as he medaled in the 100 m breaststroke in the Games on Sunday. The Budapest-based swimmer said in an interview that he was happy that he managed to deliver the second medal in swimming for the country.

 “My aim was to win a gold medal but that was not to be, but ascending to the podium for the second time for my country means a lot,” he said.

Furthermore, he said, he specialised in 50m and 100m breaststroke and therefore the mission was to win medals in those events.

 He said the games had helped him to know where to work on so as to go faster in the competition and bring more medals in future.

 Swimming national team coach, Israel Keitumele, said he was happy that the athlete managed to register a PB, and he missed a second position just by some milliseconds.

He said there was a lot of pressure for the swimmer, adding that before the final he told him to enjoy the race and forget about the pressure.

“Robinson has a good mental strength, and you have seen him absorbing the pressure and focusing on the race.

That’s all what I told all the swimmers here; to just focus with no pressure,” he said. Meanwhile, Andile Bekker finished fourth with a PB of 1:01:42, in the Men’s 100m Backstroke Heat 3 of 3.

In other events, Botswana’s ladies beach volleyball team was eliminated from the tournament by Sierra Leone after losing 2-0. Judo results: Tough battles for Tumiso Phuthego (60kg) lost to Simon Zulu of Zambia and also lost the repechage to Senegalese Dio Mousa.

 Botho Babutsi (48kg) also lost in the quarterfinals to South Africa’s Geronay Whitebooi and lost the repechage to Emilliame Razafindrakalo of Madagascar. The duo will compete again on Friday.  ENDS