Kings Park Stadium lights fail during Olympic qualifiers, athletes use carlights
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The Tokyo Olympics are around the corner!
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After they had been postponed and faced very uncertain times thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the date has been set and athletes all around the world are warming up.
Over the last few weeks, sportswomen and sportsmen have been prepping for the Olympic qualifiers that would determine whether their lifelong sports dreams would come true and they would be able to represent their country in the greatest sports event of all time.
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Although these months have been tough, these athletes have been training for this moment all their life.
And for some, it almost ended in disaster.
Precious Mashele, a middle-distance legend, has been working hard to book his ticket to Tokyo, but after six attempts, it has still evaded his grasp and he just couldn't beat the standard qualifying time of 13:13:50.
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Tuesday night, at Kings Park Stadium, he made his final attempt on the last day of the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.
It took all of Mashele to get here but after all the blood, sweat and tears, his final attempt was almost foiled by an electrical fault.
In typical South African fashion, right before Mashele was set to start his 5,000m qualifying run, the Kings Park stadium lights failed.
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Not only was the absolute darkness a concern, but the deadline for the qualifiers was at midnight and there is a 9pm level four lockdown curfew.
It seemed like it was all over but organisers quickly responded by strategically parking cars around the racetrack and had them light the way.
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The stadium lights flashed on just in time for Mashele to beat his set time, clocking in an impressive 13:11:65, and usher him in as a Tokyo Olympics team member!
I would like to thank the coaches Ramaala and Mdu Khumalo. The pacesetters Mbuleli Mathanga, Ryan Mphalele, and Nkosinathi Sibiya. I would not have done this if ASA did not organise a race for me. I feel special. I needed pacesetters, and ASA delivered. I cannot believe that I have done it. It feels like a dream.
Well, he better believe it!
Congratulations, Precious, and good luck at the Olympics. We know you and every other SA representative will do us proud.
Main image courtesy of @City_Press/Twitter