The year 1970, however, was the most momentous for the well-liked Mandaza, a real gentleman of the track. It was in May that year that he astonished everyone with a world record-equalling 9,9 sec. 100 metres in a semifinal at the South African Bantu championships at Welkom. The record was disallowed because of a following wind of 4,27 metres per second (2 m is the maximum allowed), but after clocking 10,3 sec in an earlier heat he won the final in a legal 10,2 sec. — the fastest time ever by a Rhodesian.
1′ IN HAPPIER TIMES . . . Artwell Mandaza proudly displays some of the many medals he won during his time while flanked by his late wife (right) daughter (left) and grandson at their Bindura home
Zimbabwe’s athletics legend, Artwell Mandaza has died.
He was 73.
Mandaza shot to fame in the 1970s winning several accolades as the first black to attain several feats at a time the white minority held monopoly over the sport. Mandaza is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest athletes and will be remembered more for his 1970 record time of 9,90 seconds in the 100m dash.
Tragically, he never competed in the Olympic Games because his incredible 10,3 to 9,9 second searing sprints were performed when the pariah “state” of Rhodesia was barred from the Olympic Games. The family is still working on the funeral arrangements.
