Malawi at the
1996 Summer Olympics
IOC codeMAW
NOCOlympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi
in Atlanta
Competitors2 in 1 sport
Flag bearer John Mwathiwa
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Rhodesia (1960)

Malawi sent a delegation to compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States from 19 July to 4 August 1996. This was the African nation's fifth appearance at a Summer Olympic Games. The Malawian delegation consisted of two competitors in the sport of athletics; Henry Moyo failed to advance past the first round heats of the 5,000 meters, and John Mwathiwa finished 65th in the marathon.

Background

The Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi was recognized by the International Olympic Committee on 1 January 1968.[1] The nation first joined Olympic competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics, however, they did not compete again until the 1984 Summer Olympics.[2] Malawi participated in an African boycott over New Zealand's participation at the 1976 Summer Olympics[3] and joined a United States-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[4] This made Atlanta Malawi's fifth appearance at a Summer Olympic Games.[2] The 1996 Summer Olympics were held from 19 July to 4 August 1996; 10,318 athletes represented 194 National Olympic Committees.[5] The delegation sent by Malawi to Atlanta consisted of two athletics competitors, Henry Moyo and John Mwathiwa.[6] The Marathon runner, Mwathiwa was selected as the flag-bearer for the opening ceremony.[2]

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.[7]

Sport Men Women Total
Athletics 2 0 2
Total 2 0 2

Athletics

Henry Moyo was 24 years old at the time of the Atlanta Olympics, and was making his only Olympic appearance.[8][9] On 31 July, he competed in the heats of the 5,000 meters, where he was drawn into heat two. He finished the heat in a time of 14 minutes and 30.53 seconds, 13th and last in his heat, and he was eliminated.[10] The podium was swept by African athletes, with the gold medal eventually won by Vénuste Niyongabo of Burundi, the silver by Paul Bitok of Kenya, and the bronze medal was won by Khalid Boulami of Morocco.[11][12]

John Mwathiwa was 29 years old at the time of these Olympics, and was making his third consecutive, and final, Olympic appearance.[13][14] On 4 August, he took part in the Marathon, a race that was held without rounds or heats. He finished in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 45 seconds, which put him in 65th place among 111 athletes who finished the race.[15] The gold medal was won in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 36 seconds by Josia Thugwane of South Africa, the silver by South Korean runner Lee Bong-ju, and the bronze was won by Kenyan Erick Wainaina.[16]

Athletes Events Heat Round 1 Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Henry Moyo 5000 metres 14:30.53 13 did not advance
John Mwathiwa Marathon N/A 2:24:45 65

References

  1. ^ "Malawi – National Olympic Committee (NOC)". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Malawi". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. ^ "BBC ON THIS DAY 1976: African countries boycott Olympics". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  4. ^ "54 Boycotted in 1980". The New York Times. 10 May 1984. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  5. ^ "1996 Olympics – Summer Olympic Games – Atlanta 1996". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Malawi at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  7. ^ Malawi at the 1996 Summer Olympics
  8. ^ "Henry Moyo Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Henry MOYO – Olympic Athletics – Malawi". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Men's 5,000 metres Round One". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Atlanta 1996 Athletics – Results & Videos". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Men's 5,000 metres". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  13. ^ "John Mwathiwa Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  14. ^ "John MWATHIWA – Olympic Athletics – Malawi". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Athletics at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Men's Marathon". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Atlanta 1996 Atlanta 1996 Athletics marathon men – Olympic Atlanta 1996 Athletics". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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