Fredericks
aims to get back on the gold standard
2 March 1999 – Monte Carlo – When Frank Fredericks ran 19.92 for 200m
in Melbourne on February 25 (fast on the heels of a 9.94 100m in Sydney) he demonstrated,
once again, the sublime talent that has made him one of the greatest sprinters in history.
Indeed, by one measure, that of sub-10 second 100m performances, Fredericks is already the
best, having run a record 25. He has personal bests of 9.86 and 19.68 for 100m and 200m
outdoors – and holds the world indoor record for 200m of 19.92.
But although Fredericks has been a contender for honours since 1991 (the date Namibia gained international sporting eligibility) he has won only one gold medal at Olympic and World Championships – in 1993 in Stuttgart – but 8 silvers. His detractors may argue that he lacks the mental and physical strength to handle the stresses of championship racing. But his fans – and there are many who admire this intelligent, modest man – disagree. After all, Fredericks has had to contend with the near supernatural ability of Michael Johnson at 200m throughout his career. The Namibian’s 19.68 performance in Atlanta would have normally sufficed for gold ... yet Johnson had scorched to an unbelievable 19.32. And in the 100m it needed a world record of 9.84 from Donovan Bailey to deprive Fredericks of glory.
In Athens in 1997, he was handicapped by an injured knee and was no match for the likes of Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon. But there have still been doubts about his temperament and although he won the Grand Prix 100m title and the World Cup 200m imperiously last season, Fredericks still has a point to prove, which may partly explain his rare appearance at the World Indoors.
He has competed in this event only once before - in 1993 in Toronto - where he finished second (what else!) to Bruny Surin in the 60m and scratched from the 200m. Since then he has appeared sporadically indoors – most memorably in February 1996 when he followed up a 10.05 100m in Tampere with the first ever sub-20 200m in Lievin, a world record 19.92. This winter he has chosen to race outdoors in the Southern Hemisphere, but should have no trouble adjusting to life inside, especially since Maebashi’s indoor track has gentler curves than many specialist facilities.
The real challenge will come from his rivals, particularly the US pairing of Rohsaan Griffith and defending world champion Kevin Little. They have been competing a lot indoors – and ran the world’s fastest and second fastest time of the season respectively (20.32 and 20.41) at the US Indoor Championships on Sunday. Yet Fredericks knows that there is just no more room in his medal cabinet for another silver.....
