Malawi at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Malawi participated in nine Summer Olympic Games between its début at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. The only occasions in that period which they did not attend was at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1980 Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union,[1] the former because of a boycott relating to the New Zealand national rugby union team touring South Africa, and the latter because the country joined the United States-led boycott over the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War.[2] No Malawian athlete has ever won a medal at the Olympics.[1] Malawi participated in the London Summer Olympics from 27 July to 12 August 2012.[3]

The delegation was made up of marathon runner Mike Tebulo, sprinter Ambwene Simukonda and swimmer Joyce Tafatatha.[3] The team was coached by Francis Munthali, John Kayange and Yona Walesi.[4] Malawi was represented by the country's NOC treasurer Jappie Mhango and Chef De Mission Flora Mwandira.[4][5] Swimmer Charlton Nyirenda withdrew after being unable to meet the International Olympic Committee preconditions for qualifying for the Olympic Games on solidarity.[6] Tebulo was the flag bearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies.[7][8] In the run up to the Games, the Malawian team were based at the University of Gloucestershire,[9] and trained in the town of Cheltenham.[10][11]

Mike Tebulo competing in the men's marathon

The 2012 Summer Games marked Mike Tebulo's Olympic début. He was the only male to represent Malawi at the Games and he was 27 years old at the time.[3] Tebulo qualified for the Olympics via a wildcard, as his best time of two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds set at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, was 31 seconds slower than the "B" qualifying standard, for his event, the men's marathon.[12][13] He competed in the men's marathon on 12 August, finishing 44th out of 85th finishers,[lower-alpha 1] with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds.[14] As of 2016, the time is his personal best.[15]

At the age of 28, Ambwene Simukonda made her first appearance at the Olympics, and was the oldest competitor to be selected by the Malawi team.[3] She qualified for the Games via a wildcard, as her best time of 54.32 seconds, was 2.12 seconds slower than the "B" qualifying standard, for her event, the women's 400 metres.[12][16] Simukonda participated in the event's first round in its fifth heat on 3 August, finishing fifth out of six competitors, with a time of 54:20 seconds,[17] achieving a new Malawian national record.[18] Overall Simukonda finished 37th out of 45 athletes,[lower-alpha 2] and was eliminated because she was 1.97 seconds slower than the slowest competitor in her heat who advanced to the semi-finals.[17]

Key

Men

Women

The London Aquatics Centre where Tafatatha competed in the women's 50 metre freestyle event.

Competing at her first Olympic Games,[3] Joyce Tafatatha was the youngest athlete in Malawi's Olympic history at the age of 14.[1][19] She, along with Aurélie Fanchette of the Seychelles, were two of the youngest competitors at the London Olympic Games,[19] Tafataha said that despite being nervous, she was looking forward to competing at the Olympics and stated: "It’s going to be so exciting.”[10] FINA awarded her a universality place because her fastest time did not meet the "B" qualifying standard.[6] Tafataha was drawn in the fourth heat of the women's 50 metres freestyle which was held on 3 August, finishing first out of seven swimmers, with a time of 27.74 seconds.[20] She recorded a new personal best two seconds faster than her previous fastest, and was the first Malawian athlete to win a heat in the women's 50 metre freestyle.[21] She finished 46th out of 73 swimmers overall,[20][lower-alpha 3] and although she won, she did not progress to the semi-finals,[21] because her time was 2.46 seconds slower than the slowest athlete who advanced to the later stages.[20]

Women

• Malawi at the 2012 Summer Paralympics