Jesse Jackson KauraisaWindhoek

Christine Mboma’s coach Henk Botha yesterday revealed that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 200m silver medallist has been training well as she picks up speed.

The coach is optimistic that the Namibian will gain speed moving forward.

“We are training well, and she has recovered 100% from the injury that kept her from competing at the World Championships.” Botha said Mboma took a few days off as she recovers from a bout of flu but gave assurances that “she will be okay.”

The coach added: “The fact she will not be able to take certain flu medications due to the regulations means that we will have to let her recover on her own.”

The athlete suffered from a rare rectus femoris injury in her right leg, which she picked up at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Nairobi, Kenya, in May.

The rectus femoris is the flexor of the thigh at the hip, and it is situated in the middle of the front of the thigh.

Mboma was, however, named in the Namibian Commonwealth team that will be in Birmingham, England, from 28 July to 8 August.

“Her speed looks good at the moment, but this was a strange injury and we just do not know how she will react to it in the long run.

“We will look at what the situation will be in Birmingham, because we might just have to do an operation off season if her speed is affected by the injury she had.

Botha said he remains “confident and positive that she will do well in England”.

Cracking performances

Mboma won a silver medal in the 200m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first-ever Namibian woman to win a women’s Olympic medal and breaking a world under-20 and African senior record.

The Namibian also won another gold medal at the 2021 World U20 Championships.

She continued with her scintillating form after winning a gold medal at the Diamond League final, improving her record mark to 21.78 seconds.

In 2021, Mboma set an unratified world under-20 and African senior record of 48.54 seconds in the 400m, which made her the seventh-fastest woman of all time.

Teammates

Mboma will be joined by several other Namibian athletes to compete at the Games.

Marja Woortman will be the chef de mission for the team heading to England.

Namibia has competed in seven Commonwealth Games, making its first appearance in Victoria, Canada, back in 2006.

The country has so far collected a total of 20 medals – five gold, four silver and 11 bronze.

The Namibian team:

Helalia Johannes (marathon), Christine Mboma (track and field), Alina Armus (marathon), Tomas Rainhold (marathon), Ryan Williamns (discus), Gilbert Hainuca (track and field), Mahmad Bock (track and field), Daniel Paulus (long distance), Andre Retief (track and field), Ivan Geldenhuys (track and field), Jonas Junias (boxing), Tryagain Ndevelo (boxing), Carel Olivier (bowling), John-Pierre Fouche (bowling), Vera Looser (cycling), Tristan de Lange (cycling), Alexander Miller (cycling), Hugo Hahn (cycling), Xavier Papo (cycling), Jean-Paul Burger (triathlon), Dirk Coetzee (cycling), Shayna Schutte (gymnastics), Emilia Ekandjo (triathlon), Ananias Shikongo (paralympics track and field), Bradley Murere (paralympics track and field), Alexander Skinner (swimming), Ronan Wantenaar (swimming), Imke Jagau (triathlon), Anri Krugel (triathlon), Divan du Plooy (triathlon), Romio Goliath (wrestling) and Jason Afrikaner (wrestling).