Youth Olympics: Balimumiti wins silver

By Teddy Nakanjakko in Nanjing, China

800m Finals

1.Myles Marshal (USA) 1:49.14 2.
Geoffrey Balimumiti 1:49.37 PB 3.
Morka Bacha Mulata (ETH) 1:49.73

“Mission accomplished. I wanted gold but I thank God for this silver medal that I have won for myself and my country. Atleast we are not going back home empty handed,” Geoffrey Balimumiti, 17, stated just after coming second in a highly contested 800m final on Monday night at the Nanjing Sports Centre Stadium.

Balimumiti’s prayer after making it to the finals on Friday was to win the country a medal and he was proud to have achieved that.

Getting on the track on the final day of the track and fi eld events, Balimumiti had the sixth personal best time on the startlist with Ethiopia’s Morka Mulata top among the list.

truetrue

Balimumiti had won his heat in a personal best of 1:50.43 to make it to the fi nals. However, that did not stop Balimumiti from believing that his dream was still possible.

Team Uganda who watched the race from the stands could not hide their excitement with Chief De Mission Godfrey Nuwagaba leading the pack into congratulating the medalist.

Balimumiti registered 1:49.37 which was also a personal best , a clear indication that he has a bright future. Balimumiti thanked all his coaches right from Robert Munaabi, who first spotted him as a promising athlete.

Team Uganda coach Jimmy Issamat was all praises for the teenager. “He is a hard working guy and its good he used the tactics I advised him to use. His future is bright.”

Team Uganda had six athletes from four disciplines, Athletics (3), Badminton(1) Rowing (1) and Table tenBalimumiti displays his silver medal nis(1).