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Due to sporting sanctions imposed against South Africa, Frankie
Fredericks was prevented from participating in international competition
until Namibia had gained its independence in 1990 and its IAAF
affiliation in 1991. An additional advantage of Namibia's independence
was that it thenceforth became eligible to compete in the Commonwealth
Games, and the first opportunity to do this came at Victoria in August
1994.
As the reigning world titleholder in the 200m, Fredericks became
the logical favourite in that event at the Commonwealth Games, although
he could expect strong opposition from John Regis (Great Britain) who
had finished second to Frankie at the previous year's World
Championships. In the weeks prior to the Games, Regis came second
behind Fredericks at Lausanne on 6 July, whereas these positions were
reversed when they met at Sestriere on 31 July. At Victoria, Fredericks
first attempt to win a Commonwealth medal came in the 100m, where he
was the fourth runner to pass the finish line in a very fast time of
10.06sec.
However, some days later, the athlete who finished second was
disqualified after he had been found to have failed a drugs test, which
promoted Frankie to the bronze medal position. In the 200m, although
Fredericks and Regis filled the first two places as expected, it was
really no contest, as Frankie stormed home to win by three metres in a
new Games record of 19.97sec. At the 1995 World Championships in
Gothenburg the following year, Fredericks breezed through the first two
rounds of the 100m on 5 August (see photo above), before
finishing fourth in the final held the following day.
Frankie's chances
were much better in the 200m, where he was the reigning titleholder,
but although he won the silver medal, he was well beaten in the final by
Michael Johnson (USA). (Ron Casey)
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