Namibia’s Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, Christine Mboma on Friday again hogged international headlines when she scooped the International Junior Female Athlete of the Year accolade at the Athletics Weekly Magazine Awards.

The 18-year-old Mboma, who is the reigning U/20 world and Diamond League 200m champion, had to fend off stiff competition from the likes of America’s Athing Mu and Jamaican teen sprinter Briana Williams to emerge victorious.

“I am so grateful to Athletics Weekly for this award. I couldn’t have imagined a better year for my first international season. Thank you for recognising my achievements,” said a thrilled Mboma, who won silver in the Women’s 200m at the Tokyo Olympics to end Namibia’s 25-year medal drought at the Olympics.

The Athletics Weekly Magazine Awards recognises and awards athletes who performed well at various major competitions such as at this year’s U/20 World Athletics Championships, held in Nairobi; the Tokyo Olympic Games, as well as other events around the world, such as the Diamond League and other meetings. Mboma also dominated this year’s Namibia Annual Sport Awards (NASA), where she won the prestigious MTC/NASA Sports Star of the Year award, the MTC/NASA Junior Sportswoman of the Year accolade and the highly-coveted MTC/NASA Sportswoman of the Year award, which saw her walking away with N$350 000 in total prize money. 

The U/20 world record holding Namibia teen made history when she claimed silver in the 200m in Tokyo after being forced to drop down from her preferred 400m due to a World Athletics ruling, as she was found to have elevated natural levels of testosterone.  Despite changing events, after setting the fastest 400m time in the world of the year to date in June this year, Mboma ended the season on a high note. - ohembapu@nepc.com.na