Former Liberian track and field star Bill Rogers has lauded Joseph Fahnbulleh for his remarkable achievement in advancing to the final of the men’s 200m at the Paris Olympics. Fahnbulleh, representing Liberia, secured his place in the final with a time of 20.12 seconds, finishing second in the second semifinal. American sprinter Erriyon Knighton won the semifinal with a time of 20.09 seconds.
Rogers, who set the national record in the 1500m dash in 2004, praised Fahnbulleh’s accomplishment, highlighting the significance of this milestone for Liberian athletics. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and encouragement to our current team in all categories at the ongoing Olympics in Paris,” Rogers said. “I strongly believe this will be one of the greatest moments in Liberia’s track and field history. Since Liberia began participating in the Olympics in 1956, we have not advanced to a final nor won an Olympic medal.”
Rogers also celebrated Fahnbulleh’s achievement and the performance of other Liberian athletes, including Ebony Morrison, who reached the final of the women’s 100m hurdles. “Today, one of our brightest stars has broken long-standing barriers by advancing to the final in the men’s 200m, and we are celebrating the entire team,” Rogers added. “I am particularly inspired by young Fahnbulleh’s achievements. His dedication and hard work have brought pride to our nation, and I firmly believe he has the potential to achieve even greater success.”
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Fahnbulleh was the only African in the men’s 200m final. This year, he is joined by three other African athletes. Fahnbulleh initially won his heat in the first round of the men’s 200m on August 5, 2024, with a time of 20.20 seconds, ahead of Italy’s Eseosa Fostine Desalu and South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk.
Following his strong performance in the heats and semifinals, Fahnbulleh competed in the final on August 9, 2024. He finished seventh in a competitive field of eight finalists, demonstrating his continued excellence on the world stage.
