By S. Siapha Mulbah
The Liberia athletics team in the Paris 2024 Olympics games is standing tall among several competitors with an impressive performance displayed by individual athletes.
The team’s eight athletes join the world stage with huge enthusiasm and euphoria two weeks ago in the French capitol and had been able to keep the country’s flag waving among the rest of the world with a star like Joseph Fahnbulleh leading the charge.
Monday August 5, 2024 was a day of huge celebration for the Liberian community in Paris when athlete Fahnbulleh made history as the only Liberian to top his heat of eight finishing atop to book a space in the semi-final.
He moved through with remarkable speed that outplay the heat in a tight race marking 20.20 on time.
His performance raised the hope of his countrymen as officials of the sporting sector remains optimistic that there will be medals place on the neck of Liberians at the end of the competition.
Today, August 7, 2024 Fahnbulleh will continue his task seeking qualification to the final of the 200m men run event as one of the 24 semifinalists.
During the semifinal, he is set to compete the second heat and his speed rate will determine whether or not he will be one of the eight men that will play the final and subsequently pick up a medal.
Currently with the Olympians in France is Malcolm Joseph, the Vice president of the Liberia National Olympic Committee who spoke to the country via a radio talk-show revealed that the team has received a message from President Joseph Boakai recognizing their efforts and prayer for success.
According to LNOC Veep, the team is on a par of record breaking for the fact that Fahnbulleh topped his heat in the quarterfinal before getting to the next stage.
He explained that despite the drop of Emmanuel Matadi in the 100m men serries Telma Davis from the 200m women category due to injury, the team is still in high gear supporting each other through and making sure that the best result is gotten at the end of it all.
According to him, Ebony Morris will on today get in action for the Lone Star in the 100-meter women hurdles, while the men 4X100 meter relay team plays tomorrow, August 8, 2024.
The relay team comprises of starter John Sherman, Emmanuel Matadi, Jabez Reeves and the finisher Joseph Fahnbulleh.
“The achievement of the Liberian Olympic team is the highest the country has ever gone in any sporting event. It is not just about participating but participating and making different qualifiers,” Joseph noted.
