Muzala Samukonga hoping to close in on Quincy Hall after Paris heroics

Muzala Samukonga hoping to close in on Quincy Hall after Paris heroics

Festus Chuma 18:52 - 16.08.2024

Muzala Samukonga will be aiming to challenge Quincy Hall in Lausanne after a stunning bronze medal finish in Paris Olympics.

Zambia's Muzala Samukonga will be looking to build on his Paris Olympics bronze medal performance when he takes on a star-studded field at the Wanda Diamond League in Lausanne on August 22.

The 20-year-old sprinter, who captured the world's attention with his blistering finish in Paris, will once again face off against American Quincy Hall, the gold medalist, and British silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith.

In Paris, Hall delivered a historic performance, clocking the fifth fastest 400m time in history with an incredible 43.40 seconds.

Hudson-Smith, not to be outdone, broke the European record with his own remarkable finish.

But it was Samukonga's bronze-winning run that truly showcased his grit and determination.

Clocking a new personal best of 43.74 seconds, the Zambian sprinter tied for third in a race that saw five men run under 44 seconds.

Samukonga’s rise in the 400m has been nothing short of meteoric as his unique racing style, which defies conventional wisdom about pacing in the one-lap event, has set him apart from his peers.

The 400m is often considered one of the most grueling sprints, requiring a delicate balance of speed and endurance. Go out too fast, and you risk burning out before the finish line. Go too slow, and you might find yourself trailing hopelessly behind.

Yet, Samukonga seems to have found a way to challenge these norms, consistently pushing himself to the limit and leaving everything on the track.

The world first took notice of Samukonga at the African Championships in 2022, where he burst onto the scene with a standout performance.

Initially dismissed as a one-hit wonder, he quickly silenced his critics by capturing the Commonwealth Games title later that year.

The victory marked the beginning of his ascent on the global stage, as he continued to deliver impressive performances in the months that followed.

One of the key moments in Samukonga’s career came in 2023 at an early meet in Gaborone, where he clocked a scorching 43.91 seconds.

The race set the tone for the rest of his season and established him as a serious contender in the 400m.

However, Samukonga’s journey has not been without its challenges.

Injuries have plagued him in recent years, forcing him to withdraw from several key races.

Most notably, he was forced to pull out of the 2023 Diamond League Meeting in Silesia, Poland, due to a hamstring injury.

The same injury also kept him out of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, a bitter disappointment for the young sprinter.

Despite these setbacks Samukonga remains undeterred and his Paris performance is proof that he is back in top form and ready to take on the best in the world.