Our world champion Femi Ogunode Seun qualified for the 200m final for the first time in Qatar’s history in sprint events at the World Athletics Championships, at China’s World Championships hosted by the Bird’s Nest Stadium with more than 2,000 male and female athletes competing for 47 gold medals, 24 for men and 23 for women. Our in-form champion wrote a new chapter in Qatari athletics history by qualifying with the fastest time across the three semi-final heats, setting a personal best of 20.05 seconds. Unluckily for our developing champion, he faced the man currently considered the world’s best sprinter, Justin Gatlin, alongside Jamaican hurricane Usain Bolt — Femi raced alongside Gatlin and produced the fastest heat in terms of pace, finishing third overall in 20.05 seconds, earning congratulations from American great Justin Gatlin, who shook Femi’s hand after he ran a strong, fast race to qualify for the final — an achievement that saw him reach a sprint final for the first time in his career, as he will line up tomorrow in the final alongside giants Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, writing new history for himself and his country on the world stage.
Notable progress
Observers considered Femi the most improved runner in the 200m, having qualified for the World Championships with a best of 20.26 seconds, then run quickly to reach the semi-final with a new season’s best of 20.25 seconds, before confirming his major progress in the semi-final itself with 20.05 seconds to reach the final for the first time in his career.
Femi is looking in today’s challenge to prove his great ability in the race, taking on the elite for the first time and putting himself under close technical scrutiny through his performance, aiming for his best possible position. Although he finished the race comfortably, he could still go below the time with which he qualified for the final.
Femi will have a date with new history in the “mother of sports” should he set another new personal best, though he is seeking to win any of the medals, as he has great confidence in his technical and physical ability this season and hopes to crown his efforts with his best level and result at the World Championships.
Femi happy to reach the 200m final and looking for the best at the Worlds
Promising Qatari champion Femi Seun expressed his great happiness at reaching the 200m final for the first time in his career at the World Athletics Championships. Speaking to one of the broadcasters covering the championships after the race, Femi said he had expected to qualify, having put in a great effort in the race and achieved a better time, and that he still had a lot more to give in the final.
Qatar’s champion had said in earlier comments to the press that he was looking forward to competing in the final, after which he would show his ambitions at the World Championships, especially since he has great confidence in himself to honour Qatar with the best possible achievement at the championships, noting that ambition at the World Championships comes step by step, and that he would now focus on today’s final without feeling pressure, given that reaching the final for the first time in his career was already an achievement — lining up alongside giants Bolt, Gatlin and the rest of the world’s sprint champions, which will give him a great opportunity to test his physical and technical abilities and benefit from it in the near and distant future.
