Botswana at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Botswana competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's ninth appearance at the Olympics.

Botswana at the
2012 Summer Olympics
IOC codeBOT
NOCBotswana National Olympic Committee
in London
Competitors4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Amantle Montsho (opening)
Oteng Oteng (closing)
Medals
Ranked 69th
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Botswana National Olympic Committee sent the nation's smallest delegation in its Olympic history. Four athletes from Botswana were selected to the team, competing only in athletics and boxing. Track star and sole female athlete Amantle Montsho, who considered a pre-Olympic favourite, became a strong contender to win Botswana's first Olympic medal; however, she missed out of the medal standings in the women's 400 metres, finishing only in fourth place. Montsho was also appointed by the committee to be Botswana's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

Despite being the nation's smallest delegation, Botswana left London with its first ever Olympic medal, when track runner Nijel Amos finished second in the men's 800 metres.[1]

Medalists
Main article: 2012 Summer Olympics medal table
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 SilverNijel AmosAthleticsMen's 800 metres9 August

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Three track and field athletes from Botswana participated at the London games after having achieved qualifying standards in their respective events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).[2][3] Track runner Isaac Makwala, competing in the men's 400 metres, did not advance into the semi-finals after finishing fourth in the heats. Amantle Montsho, Botswana's only female athlete and 2011 world champion, favored to win Botswana's first ever medal in the women's 400 metres, but finished in a disappointing fourth place. Her results became arbitrary, whether her coach's failure to obtain a VISA to the Olympics might have been a contributing factor.[4] 2012 world junior champion and another Olympic hopeful Nijel Amos, however, qualified successfully in the early rounds of the men's 800 metres, and ended the nation's medal drought by obtaining his silver in the final event.[1]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Isaac Makwala 400 m 45.67 4 Did not advance
Nijel Amos 800 m 1:45.90 1 Q 1:44.54 2 Q 1:41.73
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Amantle Montsho 400 m 50.40 1 Q 50.15 1 Q 49.75 4
Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Boxing
Main article: Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Boxer Oteng Oteng qualified for the Olympic games after winning the 2012 African Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament in the flyweight category.[5] Before the games, he was also the 2011 African champion in the same category. Unfortunately, Oteng lost to Puerto Rico's Jeyvier Cintrón in the first round match with a controversial move. By deliberating the final results, both Oteng and his coach felt surprised with the outcome after two even rounds and the last round, thought to be dominated by Oteng, was awarded instead to his opponent Cintrón by just a two-point difference.[6]

Men
Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Oteng Oteng Flyweight  Cintrón (PUR)
L 12–14		 Did not advance

References
  1. "Kenya's Rudisha Storms to Gold in 800 meters". RIA Novosti. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  2. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  3. IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012 ENTRY STANDARDS (PDF), IAAF, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2012, retrieved 4 June 2011
  4. "Montsho's coach blasts BNOC". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  5. "Final African Olympic Quota Places revealed". AIBA. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  6. Shock decision as Oteng bows out
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