Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — Lesotho’s last medal hopeful, Tšepo Ramonene, says he is ready to do the country proud when he takes part in the 42.2-kilometre race at the Olympics in London this morning.
Ramonene is Lesotho’s last athlete standing after three others fell by the wayside over the past two weeks.
The 21-year-old Ramonene however told the Sunday Express on Thursday that he remains determined to make history by lifting Lesotho’s first-ever medal at the Games.
“I am ready to compete and win a medal although I have a pain on the right back side of my body,” Ramonene said.
“I have been treated and I have high hopes that I will feel well before the race so I can win a medal for my country.”
He said his exposure to professional training ahead of the Games would come in handy this morning.
“I had adequate training using good equipment as opposed to my previous training for the Botswana race,” he said.
The petite marathon runner qualified for the Olympic Games in April during the Steinmetz Botswana Marathon, coming fourth in two hours,16 minutes and 51 seconds.
“I want to finish the race within the top three finalists with an aim of making it into the A Standard range of 2:13 or 2:15,” he said.
The late Kenyan, Samuel Wanjiru, who was named Kenyan Sportsman of the Year in 2009, won the last 42.2km race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by a stunning record of 2:06:32.
Ramonene however said his aim is also to qualify for the Brazilian Olympics Games in 2016.
“I also want to work hard and compete in the 2016 Olympics but I will also compete at the Commonwealth Games, Africa Championships as well as World Championships,” Ramonene said.
Although Ramonene is aware of the challenge on his shoulders, he says he is not under any pressure.
“There is no pressure for me. I feel fit and I train harder each day so I can challenge the world’s greatest marathon runners,” he said.
Lesotho’s campaign to win its first medal in the Olympic Games started on the wrong footing when swimmer ’Masempe Theko finished last in the 50-metre freestyle last Friday.
The 42.2km runner ’Mamoroallo Tjoka came a disappointing 90th on Sunday.
Sprinter Mosito Lehata also finished last in the 200-metre race, leaving Ramonene to either follow in their footsteps or make history by winning the country’s first-ever Olympic medal.
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