Muzala Samukonga has expressed his delight after he put in a brave performance as he claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 400 metres final on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
Samukonga crossed the line in a time of 43.74 seconds, setting a new national record for Zambia in the process.
The 21-year-old clinched Zambia’s first Olympic medal since Samuel Matete won silver in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “Competing at the Olympics, it has been my dream since the time I discovered that I’m an athlete, I can run.
“It means a lot to me. It’s not an easy thing, first time competing at the Olympics.
“Then finding myself in the medal bracket, it’s not an easy thing. I’m proud of myself.”
🥉🔝🌎🇿🇲
43.74s National Record, 2024 Olympics @Olympics Bronze 🥉 Medalist.
Thank you Heavenly Father I’ll forever be grateful.#ZambiaKuChalo #TeamYatu #Paris2024 #goldenmoments #TeamZambia pic.twitter.com/Jm5mZFHof8
— Muzala Samukonga (@MuzalaSamukonga) August 7, 2024
American Quincy Hall clinched the gold medal with a personal best of 43.40 seconds, while Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith took silver with an European record of 43.44 seconds.
