COMING to terms with the fact that she had been included on the national team to the Beijing Olympic Games was rather hard for Justine Bayiga for she had initially failed in her bid to qualify.
Jul 29, 2008
ANY Olympics success in the track has has had something to do with 400m. The only athletics medals for Uganda came in form of a gold medal by John Akii Bua in the 400m hurdles in 1972, while Davis Kamoga won bronze in Atlanta 1996. In 1960, Ado Gadi just missed going through the first round after he
Discipline: Athletics 400m
Personal best: 52.39 Khartoum (1997)
Highest achievements:
Semi-finalist at the Malaysia Commonwealth Games
6th, World Junior championships, Annecy, 1998
National record holder 200m (23.46s) and 400m (52.39)
COMING to terms with the fact that she had been included on the national team to the Beijing Olympic Games was rather hard for Justine Bayiga for she had initially failed in her bid to qualify.
Bayigga made it to the team courtesy of a wildcard granted to athletics teams for which no female managed to qualify on merit.
The lack of domestic competition has had Bayiga racing virtually against herself. This did not give her much hope, particularly when she had to compete against regional heavyweights like Kenya’s Elizabeth Muthoka and Sudanese Nawal El Jack at the Pan Africa Meetings in Sudan, Ethiopia, Nairobi and Kampala.
“I’ve shown I can compete with them. At least I have a chance now that I have been included on the team. What remains is for me to try out my best,†she says.
The wildcard may be seen as just reward for a valiant athlete who has raced right through Kayunga Girls to St Joseph’s Naggalama and then Makerere College School before ending up at Kampala International University.
She remembers her primary school teacher Alfred Okedi with fondness for he did everything possible to see that a future in athletics did not die out.
“It was sad to study in a school were the headmistress did not care about sports,†she reminisces. “Mr Okedi also helped us set our goals.â€
Bayigga has also had an opportunity to be coached by Uganda female Olympian Ruth Kyalisima.
“She was like a mother (when she was their coach at Makerere College). She always liked us and inspired us, telling us that sports can shape our future,†she says.
But unlike Kyalisima, other coaches did not support Bayiga, including one who told her that she will never run under 53 seconds (the time she ran in Annecy) again.
“I listened but I remained focused. (Coach) Noah Ssengendo came in to help and I now ru under 53 seconds.â€
Uganda in the 400m
ANY Olympics success in the track has has had something to do with 400m. The only athletics medals for Uganda came in form of a gold medal by John Akii Bua in the 400m hurdles in 1972, while Davis Kamoga won bronze in Atlanta 1996. In 1960, Ado Gadi just missed going through the first round after he finished 4th in his heat with 49.0 seconds.
In 1964, Amos Omolo finished 5th (47.6). He came back in 1968 and finished 8th in the final. In Munich ‘72, as Akii Bua won a 400m gold medal, Judith Ayaa stopped at the semifinals after finishing 7th (52.91).
Charles Dramiga followed suit. Moses Kyeswa and Michael Okot in 1984 and John Goville and Farida Kyakutema in 1988 could also not advance. In 1996, Kamoga won a bronze medal after clocking 44.53s, and his attempt in 2000 saw him end in the second round.
Personal best: 52.39 Khartoum (1997)
Highest achievements:
Semi-finalist at the Malaysia Commonwealth Games
6th, World Junior championships, Annecy, 1998
National record holder 200m (23.46s) and 400m (52.39)
COMING to terms with the fact that she had been included on the national team to the Beijing Olympic Games was rather hard for Justine Bayiga for she had initially failed in her bid to qualify.
Bayigga made it to the team courtesy of a wildcard granted to athletics teams for which no female managed to qualify on merit.
The lack of domestic competition has had Bayiga racing virtually against herself. This did not give her much hope, particularly when she had to compete against regional heavyweights like Kenya’s Elizabeth Muthoka and Sudanese Nawal El Jack at the Pan Africa Meetings in Sudan, Ethiopia, Nairobi and Kampala.
“I’ve shown I can compete with them. At least I have a chance now that I have been included on the team. What remains is for me to try out my best,†she says.
The wildcard may be seen as just reward for a valiant athlete who has raced right through Kayunga Girls to St Joseph’s Naggalama and then Makerere College School before ending up at Kampala International University.
She remembers her primary school teacher Alfred Okedi with fondness for he did everything possible to see that a future in athletics did not die out.
“It was sad to study in a school were the headmistress did not care about sports,†she reminisces. “Mr Okedi also helped us set our goals.â€
Bayigga has also had an opportunity to be coached by Uganda female Olympian Ruth Kyalisima.
“She was like a mother (when she was their coach at Makerere College). She always liked us and inspired us, telling us that sports can shape our future,†she says.
But unlike Kyalisima, other coaches did not support Bayiga, including one who told her that she will never run under 53 seconds (the time she ran in Annecy) again.
“I listened but I remained focused. (Coach) Noah Ssengendo came in to help and I now ru under 53 seconds.â€
Uganda in the 400m
ANY Olympics success in the track has has had something to do with 400m. The only athletics medals for Uganda came in form of a gold medal by John Akii Bua in the 400m hurdles in 1972, while Davis Kamoga won bronze in Atlanta 1996. In 1960, Ado Gadi just missed going through the first round after he finished 4th in his heat with 49.0 seconds.
In 1964, Amos Omolo finished 5th (47.6). He came back in 1968 and finished 8th in the final. In Munich ‘72, as Akii Bua won a 400m gold medal, Judith Ayaa stopped at the semifinals after finishing 7th (52.91).
Charles Dramiga followed suit. Moses Kyeswa and Michael Okot in 1984 and John Goville and Farida Kyakutema in 1988 could also not advance. In 1996, Kamoga won a bronze medal after clocking 44.53s, and his attempt in 2000 saw him end in the second round.