Lusaka, Zambia, August 27: The Zambia’s Nanjing Youth Olympics 100 metres sprint gold medallist Sydney Siame has said that he has set his sights firmly on Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The 16-year-old sprinter said he will not relax following his latest Nanjing feat where he also won a silver medal in 8x100 metres relay race.
“It’s been long for Zambia to win a medal like this. I won’t relax [because] it’s just the beginning for me, “he was quoted by online media as saying.
In fact, my target is [2016 Rio and [Tokyo] 2020 [Olympic Games], Zambians should expect gold from there,” he added.
The world fastest sprint kid recently attained success has not escaped the attention of the legendary former 400 metres hurdles specialist Samuel Matete.
The former Olympic silver medallist advised Siame not to get excited by his latest feat saying it should be regarded as foundation for future success adding instead he should continue working hard.
The 16-year-old sprinter said he will not relax following his latest Nanjing feat where he also won a silver medal in 8x100 metres relay race.
“It’s been long for Zambia to win a medal like this. I won’t relax [because] it’s just the beginning for me, “he was quoted by online media as saying.
In fact, my target is [2016 Rio and [Tokyo] 2020 [Olympic Games], Zambians should expect gold from there,” he added.
The world fastest sprint kid recently attained success has not escaped the attention of the legendary former 400 metres hurdles specialist Samuel Matete.
The former Olympic silver medallist advised Siame not to get excited by his latest feat saying it should be regarded as foundation for future success adding instead he should continue working hard.
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“He [Siame] still has a long way to go. I am encouraging the boy to train hard. He must also remain disciplined and focus on his education as the battle is ahead,”Matete told the online Daily Mail.
Siame spent 18 months at the country’s International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Sport for Hope Centre in Lusaka before Nanjing games monumental sprint feat.
Zambia sent 24 athletes at the Nanjing Games where three of the track and field athletes reached the finals of the events they took part.
The feat, which Stephen Simpemba a member of National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) described as the best despite the athletes failure to clinch more medals at Nanjing games.
“We have a young athletes, all under-18 and it’s not easy to have three participants in the finals,” he said.
The Sports Ministry has set Zambia athletics a target to win its first ever Olympic gold medal at 2016 Rio Brazil summer games.
So Siame achievement to mint a gold medal was a great boost to the country’s athletics fraternity.
“Our plans were to get the best from the training that the athletes had, and true, we had a gold medal,” said Simpemba.
Simpemba told the local media that Siame success in China shows that the country’s sports authority’s strategic plan for medals at 2020 Tokyo games is firmly on right track.
“Our strategic plan for medals in 2020 is on the right track because we already have medals,” he declared.
Siame spent 18 months at the country’s International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Sport for Hope Centre in Lusaka before Nanjing games monumental sprint feat.
Zambia sent 24 athletes at the Nanjing Games where three of the track and field athletes reached the finals of the events they took part.
The feat, which Stephen Simpemba a member of National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) described as the best despite the athletes failure to clinch more medals at Nanjing games.
“We have a young athletes, all under-18 and it’s not easy to have three participants in the finals,” he said.
The Sports Ministry has set Zambia athletics a target to win its first ever Olympic gold medal at 2016 Rio Brazil summer games.
So Siame achievement to mint a gold medal was a great boost to the country’s athletics fraternity.
“Our plans were to get the best from the training that the athletes had, and true, we had a gold medal,” said Simpemba.
Simpemba told the local media that Siame success in China shows that the country’s sports authority’s strategic plan for medals at 2020 Tokyo games is firmly on right track.
“Our strategic plan for medals in 2020 is on the right track because we already have medals,” he declared.
By: Joel Chirwa
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