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It is doubtful whether many track fans had even heard of the country of
Namibia before Frankie Fredericks started winning medals at
international championships, but by the end of his career, both himself
and his country's flag had become commonplace sights in victory
ceremonies at major international championships. Frankie had
demonstrated his sprinting ability long before Namibia became an
independent nation, having won the South African 200m title in 1987.
However, due to the international sanctions imposed on South Africa
during this period, Fredericks was unable to compete in the
international arena until after Namibia had gained its independence in
1990, and acquired IAAF affiliation in 1991. In common with many
athletes, Fredericks' career was assisted by attending a USA university
and competing in their collegiate competition. On 1 June 1991,
representing Brigham Young University, Fredericks narrowly won the NCAA
100m title at Eugene in a wind-assisted time of 10.03sec, and also won
the 200m title in a wind-assisted 19.90sec, to make him the first
foreign athlete to win the 100m/200m double at the US National
Collegiate championships.
At the World Championships held in Tokyo
later that year, Fredericks showed he was a force to be reckoned with
when he won his second round heat of the 100m on 24 August in a
wind-assisted 9.89sec (see photo above). In the final the
following day, in what has generally been regarded as the greatest
sprint final in history, Frankie clocked 9.95sec, which moved him to
equal 7th on the all-time world list, but only finished 5th in the race.
No sprinter had ever run that fast before in a 100m race and not
filled either of the first two places. Two days later, Fredericks
finished second in the 200m final, to win Namibia's first medal in a
World Championships. (Ron Casey)
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