Games postponement: A blessing or a curse?

LIMBA MUPETAMIWINDHOEKNamibia will have its fair share of representatives at the Olympic Games next year.The postponed Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo from 23 July to 8 August 2021.Five local athletes – rower Maike Diekmann, cyclists Dan Craven and Vera Adrian, marathon runner Helalia Johannes and boxer Jonas Jonas - have already secured spots, with the rest still waiting for postponed competitions in order to qualify.Diekmann qualified at the Africa qualifiers in Tunisia last year. Her preparation is assisted by World Rowing and the Olympic Solidarity scholarship.Road cyclists Craven and Adrian's places were awarded as per Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ranking. Jonas qualified at the African Championships in Dakar, Senegal, in February, whereas Johannes qualified after the IAAF World Championships in Doha.The lives of these athletes are difficult, says Robert Kaxuxwena, who coaches Johannes.'The postponement made everything difficult. It messed with the athletes' fitness and momentum,' he added.A boxer, who did not want to be named, said his momentum is off because major competitions that he was looking at to prepare have been called off and the postponement doesn't really help him much. “It's really just a curse but right now one just needs to be self-motivated,' he said. Those still in lineMountain bikers Michelle Vorster and Alexander Miller are still awaiting confirmation from UCI as to whether they qualify or not. Marathon runner Reinhold Thomas still awaits possible qualification, with a participating event to be announced.Track athlete Beatrice Masilingi also awaits possible qualification through competitions to be held in South Africa and Germany. The time to beat in the marathon competition in order to qualify is 2:29:30 for women and 2:11:30 for men. In the 200 metres, the qualifying time is 22.80, whereas it is 51.35 in the 400 metres.Boxers Tryagain Ndevelo and Trofimus Johannes were hoping to qualify at the World Cup that was postponed in March. New qualification dates will be determined soon by the IOC Boxing Task Team. Gymnasts, karatekas, swimmers and a wrestler still have time to qualify. With gymnastics, the Africa qualifier for trampoline and tumbling that was scheduled to take place from May 25 to 29 at The Dome in Swakopmund was postponed to next year. The event is still scheduled to take place in Namibia.For karate, a qualification event was scheduled to take place in Paris this year. The NNOC awaits new qualification information from the International Karate Federation.Swimmer Phillip Zeidler was scheduled to compete in the 10km Open Water qualification event in Fukuoko, Japan, from May 30 to 31. This event has been postponed.Another swimmer, 100-metre freestyle specialist Alexander Skinner, is waiting for the announcement of a new qualification date.Wrestler Romeo Goliath will also participate in a continental qualifier.

Games postponement: A blessing or a curse?

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-05

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Games postponement: A blessing or a curse?

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-05

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