A Sprinter Rises from Botswana

Amantle Montsho celebrates winning gold in the 400m at the World Championship in Daegu, 2011.

Amantle Montsho, a 28 year old female sprinter from Botswana, is the current world champion in the 400 metres. Her body leaning over, hands on the track, butt up in the air, elbows unlocked. When Montsho settles into the starting blocks on the track, her eyes bursting with desire, all you can see is a champion in quest for gold. Considered one of the fastest women in the world, the Botswana hopeful is a favorite to win gold in the women's 400 metres at the Olympics this summer.


But Montsho's journey from a small town called Maun, located  in the North West region of Botswana to the biggest stage in sports, is very different from the other athletes she will be competing against in London. Growing up in Maun, which had only one gymnasium and no track fields, Montsho spent alot of her childhood sprinting back and forth in the family's cattle post. Today, she is the reigning world champion in the 400m and a few days away from making history if she captures Botswana's first ever Olympic medal.

Far from home, Montsho has been based at the I.A.A.F training center in Dakar, Senegal since April 2006. Chasing her Olympic dream, she has been living in near isolation in her quest for gold. Her routine is the same 6 days of the week. She eats well, sleeps well and does intense training. A combination of workouts on the beach, in the nearby hills, on an outdoor track, and in the weight room. Her coach, Anthony Koffi, a native of Ivory Coast, is hopeful that all the sweating and grinding will pay off at the games in London.

From a small city in Botswana, Montsho has become an icon in her country. The legacy; a sponsorship deal with Nike, 6 gold medals in other races worldwide, earns prize money through these races including $60,000 for winning the World Championships last summer (which is nearly four times the annual per capita income in Botswana) and finished 8th in the 400m at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Would she win Botswana's first Olympic medal in London this summer? That remains her quest and a nation's hope!



Amantle races past Allyson Felix (U.S) to win the World Championships, Daegu 2011



In Dakar, walking with other athletes to the training center.



As part of her routine, Amantle sprints along the beach in Dakar 6 days during the week.



Endurance, hurt and pain. Amantle knows what it takes to be a champ!



In her hometown, Maun, a billboard of Amantle Montsho wielding the nation's flag.

Good luck in London Amantle! Make Botswana proud, make Africa proud !

(Photos: courtesy of the New York Times and Super Sport)