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Frankie Fredericks had come from virtual obscurity at the start of the
1991 season to firmly establish himself as one of the world's premier
sprinters by the end of the year, having won a silver medal in the 200m
at the World Championships in Tokyo, and finished fifth in the 100m
final. Fredericks continued this form during the early part of the 1992
season, and by the time of the Olympic Games in Barcelona he was looked
upon as a definite chance in both the 100m and 200m.
At Barcelona,
Fredericks confirmed this favouritism in the preliminary rounds of the
100m, when he became the only athlete to advance to the final
undefeated. In the final, on 1 August, Fredericks was second fastest
out of the blocks behind Canadian Bruny Surin. By 40m, Fredericks and
Linford Christie (Great Britain) were equal second behind Surin but were
hauling him in quickly. Christie (in lane 5) gradually eased away from
the rest of the field and went on to win from Fredericks (see photo above, in lane 3 at far right),
who just held on for the silver medal in front of Dennis Mitchell (USA)
in lane 4.
This was the first medal ever won by a Namibian in Olympic
Games competition. In the 200m, Fredericks again advanced through the
preliminary rounds undefeated, and in the final on 6 August, he finished
second behind Mike Marsh (USA) to win his second Olympic silver medal.
Two weeks after the Olympics, on 19 August, Frankie set a personal best
time of 19.97sec over 200m when he again finished second behind Marsh
at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich.
Two days later at Berlin, Fredericks
reversed their roles, when he beat Marsh over 200m clocking 20.01sec to
the American's 20.14sec. (Ron Casey)
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