On this day 11 August 2006 (Exactly 14 years ago today) Ghana’s women’s 4x100m relay team edged perennial power Nigeria at the finish line to win her third gold at the Africa Athletics Championships at the Germain Commarmond Stadium in Mauritius.
1.Ghana Gifty Addy, Elizabeth Amolofo, Vida Anim, Esther Dankwah 44.43
2.Nigeria Toyin Augustus, Francisca Idoko, Gloria Kemasuode, Endurance Ojokolo 44.52
- Cameroon Esther Solange Ndoumbe, Carole Kaboud Mebam, Joséphine Mbarga-Bikié, Myriam Léonie Mani 46.4
On this day 11 August 1984 (Exactly 36 years ago today) Carl Lewis duplicated Jesse Owens’ 1936 feat by winning his 4th Olympic gold medal as part of the US 4 x 100m relay team in a world record time (37.83)
On this day 11 August 1984 (Exactly 36 years ago today)There was a British 1-2 in the 1,500m at the Los Angeles Olympics with current World Athletics President Sebastian Coe edging teammate Steve Cram to become the only man to successfully defend his Olympic 1,500m title
On this day 11 August 2005 (Exactly b15 years ago today) American Justin Gatlin became only the 2nd athlete to take sprint double, winning 200m in 20.04 at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland
On this day b11 August 2013 (Exactly 7 years ago today) Usain Bolt of Jamaica recorded best time of the year (9.77s) to edge out American Justin Gatlin and win 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia
On this day 11 August 2016 (Exactly 4 years ago today) American super-swimmer Michael Phelps won men’s 200m individual medley in 1:54.66 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics; 3rd athlete and 1st swimmer to win 4 consecutive Olympic gold medals in one event
On this day 11 August 2012 (Exactly 8 years ago today) Mexico ended their wait for an Olympic medal in style as they overcame Brazil 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to claim gold at London 2012.
Luis Fernando Tena’s well-organised side, in which over-age players Jose Corona, Carlos Salcido and final matchwinner Oribe Peralta blended well with emerging stars such as Marco Fabian, Javier Aquino and midfield dynamo Jorge Enriquez, were worthy winners.
- El Tri’s* previous best in the competition was a fourth-placed finish on home soil back in 1968, but while their first-placed finish may have been unexpected, it was certainly deserved on the day against an out-of-sorts Brazil team, whose search for a gold medal continued.
Having secured silver in 1984 and 1988, and bronze in 1996 and 2008, hopes were high that Mano Menezes and his talented squad would finally end their Olympic curse. After five wins out of five en route to the Wembley showdown, expectations rose still further.
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah