LONDON, August 11, 2017 – The men’s 200m final onThursday night brought another unexpected drama to the World Championships asAzeri-born Turkish sprinter Ramil Guliyev took gold. In doing so, much likeJust Gatlin in the 100m final, he showed complete disregard for thepre-prepared script of the night – in this case the Makwala vs Van Niekerekshowdown. Guliyev’s time 20.09 time was the fastest ahead of South Africa’s VanNiekerk who took silver and JereemRichards of Trinidad and Tobago, while crowed favorite Botswana’s Isaak Makwalamanaged only a sixth place finish.
Just a few days ago, not many peoplehad heard of the name Isaac Makwala. Then, the 30-year old sprinter fromBotswana became the talk of the Championship.
Makwala comes from a small towncalled Tutume from the eastern part of Botswana just 50km from the border withZimbabwe. The three-time African champion is nearing the end of his careerwithout having won gold at a World Championship or Olympic Games.
It was the world athletics’ governingbody’s decision to prevent Makwala from competing in the 400m finals andinitially in the 200m semifinal that made headlines around the world.Conspiracy theories ran wild, down to that the decision to ban the Botswanan waspurposefully made to make things easier in the 400m for his much youngercompetitor, world record holder and eventual gold medalist, South African WaydeVan Niekerk. With Makwala eventually being allowed to run a sole heat for the200m, and qualifying for semis and the final with ease, the 200m showdown wasso eagerly anticipated.
Wayde Van Niekerk had alreadysuccessfully defended his 400m gold from Beijing, and many were eagerlyawaiting for the young South African to become the next face of the track sportwith his superstar approach, following the departure of Jamaica’s multiple OlympicChampion Usain Bolt. Van Neikerk however, appeared to feel the pressure and thephysical strain of having to run six races in three days, and only made the200m final as a fastest loser.
Going into the now historical race,all of London Stadium was with Makwala, athletics’ very own Cinderella story ofcoming back from norovirus lockdown, a solo run in the rain, and running 200mtwice in the space of three hours. The other fairytale could have been Van Neikerk’sas he attempted to become the double 200 and 400m champion and emulate his heroMichael Johnson from Gothenburg 1995. Neither scenario however was meant to beas it was unexpected sprinter Rami Guliyev, 27, from Turkey who snatched the race,and wrote his own version of story.
Local reports from Botswana indicate that, the government have a planto honor Isaac Makwala, for the fight and bravery he showed to stay in thechampionship, and to award him the amount of money that the government pledgesto give for every gold medal winner, despite him not even running the 400mfinal. After his sixth place finish Makwala said “I have been fully prepared forthe 400m, which was my race. I did 200m casually and because I had to run threetimes in less than 24hours I feel tired.” Whereas the silver medalist from therace Van Niekerk admitted,” It was really a massive rollercoaster for me, this competition. Ididn't just celebrate the medal I got tonight, it was more a celebration of thecompetition overall. Coming away with two medals -- both a good color,gold and silver. I think it's great for my career and another moment to begrateful for.”
Who is thenew men’s world champion, Ramil Guliyev?
“This is not a shock but this does not feel real. This title meansa lot. I have shown my best throughout this competition. I delivered my bestrace at the right time. I was competing against some of the bestathletes in the world, so it didn't bother me that the attention was on them.Maybe at the next competition everyone will look at me instead." Thosewere the words of Ramil Guliyev after succeeding Usain Bolt as the men’s 200m world champion.
Born and raised in Azerbaijan, Guliyev,27, originally competed for the Caspain nation until he become a Turkishcitizen in 2011. His victory may be asurpise for the world, but for a small group of Turkish journalists, who werewaiting for the new world champion in the mixed zone, it was 100% expected one.Some even superstitiously wore golden shoes and bags of the same color willingtheir adopted compatriot to win the gold medal.
According to Guliyev’s coach OlegMukhin, who has trained with the newworld 200m champion since a very young age, he destined to achieve what he diddue to his hard work throughout the years. Guliyev’s previous acheivementsincluded a silver from the European Championships in Amsterdam in 2016. Thesprinter has previously maintain that Mukhin, a family relative is like afather figure, who has helped ease the transition to Turkey.
The man who stole the headlines afterhis unexpected 200m world championship victory grew up practicing gymnasticsand swimming rather than track, but after multiple victories in youth sprintcompetitions, he changed his focus and his mentality to become a sprinter. Itseems to have been the right decision.
