Samuel Matete facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Zambia |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1996 Atlanta | 400 m hurdles |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 1991 Tokyo | 400 m hurdles |
| Silver | 1993 Stuttgart | 400 m hurdles |
| Silver | 1995 Gothenburg | 400 m hurdles |
Samuel Matete was a fantastic athlete from Zambia. He was born on July 27, 1968, in Chingola. Samuel became famous for competing in 400 metres hurdles, which is a running race where athletes jump over barriers. He was one of the best hurdlers in the world during the 1990s.
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Samuel Matete's Amazing Career
Samuel Matete was known for his incredibly fast finish in races. This skill helped him become one of the top hurdlers in the world during the early to mid-1990s. He made history for his home country, Zambia.
Becoming a World Champion
In 1991, Samuel Matete became the first ever track and field world champion from Zambia. This happened at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo, Japan. It was a very special moment because he was also the first African athlete to win the 400-meter hurdles event at the World Championships.
Olympic Success
Samuel Matete represented Zambia in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Games four times, from 1988 to 2000. His biggest Olympic achievement was winning a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. This showed he was one of the best athletes globally.
Setting Records
Samuel Matete set an amazing personal best time of 47.10 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles. He achieved this in 1991 during a competition called Weltklasse Zürich. This time is still the African record for the event. It also ranks as one of the fastest times ever recorded in the world.
Samuel Matete's Major Achievements
Samuel Matete competed in many important athletics events around the world. He won several gold and silver medals, showing his skill and dedication.
World Championships Medals
- In 1991, he won a gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
- He earned a silver medal at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
- He won another silver medal at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Other Important Wins
- In 1992, Samuel won a gold medal at the World Cup in Havana, Cuba, for the 400-meter hurdles. He also won gold in the 4 × 400-meter relay race there.
- He won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, in 1994.
- In 1994, he also won a gold medal at the World Cup in London, United Kingdom, for the 400-meter hurdles and the 4 × 400-meter relay.
- He won a gold medal at the African Championships in Dakar, Senegal, in 1998.
- Later in 1998, he won another gold medal at the World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Samuel Matete's Fastest Times
Here are Samuel Matete's personal best times in different running events:
- 400 metres hurdles - 47.10 seconds (achieved in 1991)
- 400 metres - 44.88 seconds (achieved in 1991)
- 200 metres - 21.04 seconds (achieved in 1989)
- 100 metres - 10.77 seconds (achieved in 1989)
See also
In Spanish: Samuel Matete para niños
