Wilfred Mwalawanda

Last updated

Wilfred Mwalawanda
Personal information
NationalityMalawian
Born (1944-12-20) 20 December 1944 (age 80)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Javelin throw
Decathlon

Wilfred Mwalawanda (born 20 December 1944) is a Malawian athlete. He competed in the men's decathlon at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where he won the decathlon javelin throw competition. [1]

Mwalawanda's strength was considered to be in the throwing events, and he was considered one of Malawi's strongest throwers along with Paulus Mulaudzi in the 1970s. [2] He finished 5th in the javelin throw at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, placing as the top African athlete. [3]

Mwalawanda trained at 7,000 feet of altitude at the Inyanga Mountains of Rhodesia to prepare for the 1972 Olympics, using an isometric machine to strain his arms. [4] He won the Olympic decathlon javelin throw outright, but underperformed in other events. He nonetheless set several Malawian records during his Olympic decathlon performance, including in the 110 metres hurdles. [5] [6]

Beginning in the 1980s, Mwalawanda began to represent South Africa internationally. He continued to compete in masters athletics into the 1990s, winning the M50 javelin throw at the 1993 World Masters Athletics Championships. [7] [8] [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Wilfred Mwalawanda Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Township talent falling through the cracks due to lack of funding". news24.com.
  3. ↑ "1970 Men's Javelin Results". thecgf.com. Retrieved 23 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Goal in mind". The Kingston Whig-Standard. 22 May 1968. p. 13. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Olympic History for Malawi". malawi24.com. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "World Athletics Statistic Handbook 2022: National Outdoor Records" (PDF). World Athletics.
  7. ↑ "WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)". Athletics Weekly.
  8. ↑ "NATIONAL MASTERS NEWS December 1983" (PDF). mastershistory.org. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "National Masters News 04_1994" (PDF). mastershistory.org.
  10. ↑ "Kerk skenk R12 000 aan Rotalia". Carletonville Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
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