Nene says the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games was unexpected after struggling through the earlier rounds and barely reaching the final.
Nene, a multiple SA champion, advanced to the final as one of the fastest losers after a difficult heat and semi-final campaign. The KwaZulu-Natal province-born athlete admitted that reaching the final had already felt like a second chance.
In the final, Nene produced a stronger performance to finish third in 45.21 seconds and claim a first major international medal. “I think I just didn’t show up in the heats and I put myself in a position where I was given a lane in the final as one of the fastest losers,” Nene said.
Nene said the disappointment of the earlier rounds forced a change in mindset before the medal race. “Coming into the final race I just had to shift my focus, and I decided that I’m not leaving Scotland without any silverware and that’s what I did,” Nene said.
The 28-year-old arrived in Glasgow in strong form after impressive performances on the European circuit. Expectations were high, with many viewing Nene as a medal contender and possible gold medal challenger.
However, Nene said the early performances did not go according to plan and left uncertainty before the final.
Despite the setback, Nene said the focus shifted to making the most of the opportunity available. “Once you have your cards laid out in front of you, you just have to make the most of it, and that’s what I did,” Nene said.
Nene said belief remained despite not delivering the performance expected in the earlier rounds. “I knew I was more than capable of bringing back a bronze medal at the very least,” Nene said.
Nene added that the medal does not define the full scope of future ambitions, with major competitions still ahead.
The SA sprinter is now turning attention to the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Hungary in September, the 2027 World Championships in China and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nene said the Commonwealth Games medal is a step forward, but the goal remains to compete for the highest honours on the international stage.
–SABCSport/ChannelAfrica–
