From dusty Village to World Traveler - the rise and rise and rise of Mbulaeni Mulaudzi - Time-to-Run South Africa


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	From dusty Village to World Traveler - Mbulaeni Mulaudzi

Johannesburg, Tuesday, 19 September 2006 - Today, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, South Africa’s first black athlete to be ranked number one in the world, returned home to a hero’s welcome. He was honoured at a breakfast press conference by Athletics South Africa, where its president, Leonard Chuene presented the superstar with a cheque of R50,000 for this remarkable lifetime achievement.

Leonard Chuene said: “This occasion today reaffirms our commitment to put our athletes first. Mulaudzi has brought glory to South Africa once again, and we are extremely proud of what he has achieved throughout his career. Young up and coming athletes will do well to follow in his footsteps. He is truly a role model for many and a true star.”

On 22 July 2000 a little known South African runner shocked the 800m world. In Budapest in front of about 5000 spectators, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi had made short work of the then Olympic Champion Vebjoern Rodahl and a new star was born.

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was born in the small dusty village of Muduluni in Venda, just north of Polokwane and was it not for the watchful eye of Makonde Makhumisane the world may never have known this awe-inspiring and gifted 800m runner. Makhumisane plucked Mbulaeni off the soccer field and started him in running. But first he needed permission from Mbulaeni's father who wasn't all that keen on the idea, as he had just bought his son a pair of brand new soccer boots. But Makhumisane was not to be thwarted and persisted in trying to convince Mulaudzi senior that his son could be the next great middle distance runner in South Africa. Evidently he succeeded.

Makhumisane then proceeded to polish this raw diamond with lots of mileage. By 1999 he realized that for Mulaudzi to flourish he needed to move and sent him to Vaal Tech and into the arms of Ian Harries.

Their first meeting was rather comical. Ian Harries recounts the story as follows: “The first time I met Mbulaeni I had no idea who I was dealing with. In fact I couldn't even pronounce his name. He shyly said to me that he wanted to join Vaal Tech and run the 800m.

At that time he had 1:48:00 for 800m and 47:20 for 400m. That made Harries sit up and take notice and that is how he had inherited the 1999 Africa Junior Champion.

The two proceeded to work on Mulaudzi’s speed; he had endurance in abundance and the fruits of the success were clear when he won in Budapest. Not only had Mulaudzi thrashed the reigning Olympic Champion, he had also improved his lifetime best by 3 seconds within a year from 1:48:33 to 1:45:55.

Hard work started to pay off in 2001 when he won the first of his South African national titles. 2001 also saw Mulaudzi race at his first World Championships as a senior. He finished 6th in 1:45,01. At the end of 2001 he had lowered his PB to 1:44;01 at the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich where only the best athletes in the world are invited.

2002 it got even better. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi won his first major international medal when he ran a tactically astute race and won the Commonwealth Games title. That title saw a host of invitations to some of the biggest meetings on the World Circuit and Mulaudzi again chose Zurich to lower his best when he came third in a time of 1:43;81.

In 2003 in Paris at the 9th edition of the IAAF World Championships, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi finished third and got his second major international medal.

Proving he was fast becoming a man for the major Championships, Mbulaeni added the silver medal at the All Africa Games in Nigeria to his fast growing medal tally. Mulaudzi also scared the South African record of Hezekiel Sepeng (1:42;69 Brussels 1999) when he chose the same venue to run his fastest time ever of 1:42;89 to finish second.

But his big breakthrough came in 2004. At the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest Mbulaeni Mulaudzi struck Gold. A novice to the indoor circuit, Mulaudzi showed that he could compete on any surface when he beat Rashid Ramzi into second in a time of 1:45;71.

If anyone thought that was lucky they were going to be proven wrong on the biggest stage of any athletes' career. Showing true grit and tenacity, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was just pipped at the post by Yuriy Borzakovsky to win Olympic Silver - the best performance of his short athletics career.

Much was expected of him in 2005; indeed he was burning up the track in Europe and entered the World Championships in Helsinki as the favourite. But the pressure became too much and he bowed out in the semi-finals running probably the worst tactical race of his career.

The end of 2005 also saw the end of the long relationship between Mulaudzi and Ian Harries as the 800m ace and his coach decided a change was necessary to reach a new level. With that in mind Mulaudzi joined forces with JP Van Der Merwe who coached Hezekiel Sepeng to Olympic and World Silver medals including a South African record.

In 2006 Moscow was the venue for the World Indoor Championships and it appeared as if the real Mulaudzi was back as he looked very comfortable in the qualification rounds of the 800m. But disaster was to strike when Kenya's Wilfred Bungei accidentally spiked him in the first of the four laps but he still managed to win a silver medal despite the injury. The severity of the injury only became clear when Mbulaeni Muluadzi had to return to South Africa for a scan on his Achilles heel. The injury in fact put him out for close on to four months, which meant he had to miss the chance to defend his Commonwealth Title.

It was as if the injury and the healing thereof had unleashed the best of Mulaudzi. On 16 July he competed at a low key meeting at Lapinlathi in Finland and won in a time of 1:44;99. 10 days later he traveled to Helsinki, the venue of his disastrous 2005 World Championship campaign and left with another win in a time of 1:43;97.

At the 2006 African Championships Mulaudzi was keen on gold, but coming into the home straight he was spiked yet again and finished a disappointing 6th.

He traveled to the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich on 18 August where he decimated the strongest field assembled in 2006, with a season’s best time of 1:43;38. In his wake were left amongst others Amine Laalou, Wilfred Bungei and newly crowned European Champion Bram Son. Two days later he repeated the feat in Monaco, and victory number 4 in Europe was achieved in a time of 1:44;14.

Rieti was the next stop on the 27 August. The Italian city is notorious for fast times in the middle distances and Mulaudzi made full use of the fast track by storming to victory in 1:43;09 - the fastest in the year.

The final Golden League meeting of the year was in Berlin on September 3. At stake for Mulaudzi was vital Grand Prix points needed to qualify for the World Athletics Final. These were secured with victory number 6 in Europe.

On Friday 8 September Mbulaeni Mulaudzi turned 26. A day later he gave himself the richest birthday present of his life when he won the World Athletics Final 800m to pocket $30 000. In order to do that he had to defeat the best 7 athletes in the world this year. The win went a long way to restoring the perception that he was not capable of winning a tactical race after his disastrous 2005 World Championships and 2006 African Championship performances. Both were tactical races. Still 7 races undefeated against the best the world is an incredible achievement.

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Athletics South Africa salutes you!

Mbulauni Mulaudzi Fact Sheet

Born 8 September 1980.

Career Highlights

Olympic Games 2004 - 2nd;

World Championships 2001 - 6th; 2003 - 3rd;

Commonwealth Games 2002 - 1st;

Africa Games 2003 - 2nd;

Africa Championships 2000 - 2nd; 2002-3rd;

World Indoor 2004 - 1st;

Africa Junior Championships 1999 - 1st Career progression:

1998 - 1:50;33, 1999 - 1:48;33, 2000 - 1:45;55, 2001 - 1:44;01, 2002 - 1:43;81; 2003 - 1:42;89, 2004 - 1:44;56, 2005 - 1:44;08, 2006 - 1:43;08