California Molefe
Encyclopedia
California Molefe is a Botswana
sprinter
runner who won a silver medal in 400 metres
at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
in Moscow
, becoming the first Botswana athlete to win a major international medal.
His only title prior to 2006 was a bronze medal at the 1999 African Junior Championships. He competed at the 2004 Olympics, getting knocked out in the heats in the individual contest
and placing eighth in the final with the 4 x 400 metres relay team. He won the gold medal in 400 m at the 2007 All-Africa Games
.
Molefe set his personal best time during the heats at the 2005 World Championships
with 45.34 seconds. This is the current Botswana record.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
runner who won a silver medal in 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations was held in Moscow from March 10 to March 12, 2006 in the Olimpiyski Sport arena....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, becoming the first Botswana athlete to win a major international medal.
His only title prior to 2006 was a bronze medal at the 1999 African Junior Championships. He competed at the 2004 Olympics, getting knocked out in the heats in the individual contest
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metres
-Qualification:The qualification period for Athletics was 1 January 2003 to 9 August 2004. For the men's 400 metres, each National Olympic Committee was permitted to enter up to three athletes that had run the race in 45.55 seconds or faster during the qualification period...
and placing eighth in the final with the 4 x 400 metres relay team. He won the gold medal in 400 m at the 2007 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 2007 All-Africa Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 All-Africa Games was held on the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria between 18 July and 22 July 2007. Nigeria was the most successful nation of the competition having won nine golds and 24 medals in total. South Africa was a close second with seven golds...
.
Molefe set his personal best time during the heats at the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
with 45.34 seconds. This is the current Botswana record.