Sports

Tokyo Olympics: Huge Blunder as 4x100m Relay Runners Drop the Baton

Thursday, August 05, 2021 at 9:53 AM by Thando Mpembe

South Africa failed to qualify for the final of the 4x100m relays after an unfortunate mishap took place during the handoff
A slip-up happened when Clarence Munyai was trying to hand over the baton to Shaun Maswanganyi
This resulted in the team not being able to finish the race and caused South Africa to not qualify for the final event

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The Tokyo Olympics have been disappointing when it comes to Team South Africa and track. Citizens were hoping that things would be different when it came to the 4x100m relay but it was not to be as the baton was dropped, causing South Africa to not qualify for the next round.

After winning gold at the World Athletics Relay Championships in Poland, the South African squad of Clarence Munyai, Shaun Maswanganyi, Chederick van Wyk and Akani Simbine were significant medal contenders.

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Tokyo Olympics, 4x100m relay, Shaun Maswangayi, Clarence Munyai, Chederick van Wyk, Akani Simbine, athletics — It was not to be for South Africa after the baton was dropped in qualifying stages. Image: Christian Petersen
Source: Getty Images

Munyai started the race for South Africa in lane seven in the scorching heat on Thursday, but the promising team could only get to the 100m mark before a baton incident, according to Sport24.

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At the initial changeover, Munyai intended to transfer the baton to Maswanganyi but the runners clashed and SA failed to complete it.

Munyai did not speak to the media after the accident but Maswanganyi, a student from the United States, took responsibility in tears.

"I don’t like making excuses but at the end of the day I didn’t get out the same way I had been practising,” said Maswanganyi, according to TimesLIVE.

Shaun Maswanganyi speaks to Briefly News about his journey in track

Briefly News previously reported that South African track athlete Shaun Maswanganyi has had quite the journey and recently bagged himself a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, which commenced on Friday, 23 July.