Frankie Fredericks
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Frank Fredericks (born October 2, 1967) is a Namibian athlete, the first and so far only Olympic medalist of his country.
Born in Windhoek, Frankie Fredericks was awarded a scholarship at Brigham Young University in the USA in 1987. In 1991, after his country had become independent of South Africa, Fredericks could participate in international competition. At the World Championships that year, Fredericks won a silver medal in the 200 m, finishing behind Michael Johnson, and placed 5th in the 100 m.
The following year, at the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics, Fredericks became Namibia's first Olympic medalist when he finished second in both the 100 m and 200 m. In 1993, in Stuttgart, he became the nation's first World Champion, winning the 200 m.
For the 1996 Summer Olympics, Fredericks was among the title favourites for both the 100 m and 200 m. He reached both finals, and again finished second in both. In the 100 m, he was beaten by Donovan Bailey, who set a new World Record, and in the 200 m he was beaten by Michael Johnson, who also set a new World Record.
In the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Frankie once again missed out on the chance of gold in the 100 m; he was beaten by Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago.
Suffering from injuries, Fredericks had to withdraw from the 1999 and 2001 World Championships and the 2000 Summer Olympics. In the 200 m final at the 2004 Summer Olympics he finished 4th.
By the end of 2004's outdoor season, Fredericks resigned his active career.
He has run the 100 under 10 seconds 27 times, number three on the all-time list behind Trinidadian Ato Boldon (28) and American Maurice Greene (52).
Personal bests
100 m: 9.86 s (1996)
200 m: 19.68 s (1996)
200 m (indoors): 19.92 (world record)de:Frankie Fredericks nl:Frankie Fredericks