It is not for nothing that former Olympic and world champion, Maria de Lurdes Mutola, is ranked as one of the greatest female 800 meters runners there has ever been. The Mozambique legend set the benchmark for her outstanding performances in major championships and her exceptional longevity as an athlete also set her apart too.
Mutola, nicknamed “Maputo Express”, is only the fourth female track and field athlete to compete at six Olympic Games. The double African champion at the 1990 African Championships in Cairo is a three-time world champion in the 800 meters event and a one-time Olympic champion.
Although Mutola came from a very humble background, she is a living proof that the sky is the limit if one believes in their abilities and potential.
Maria de Lurdes Mutola is a retired Mozambican middle-distance runner born in the neighbourhood of Mafalala, in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique in Oct 2nd, 1972, she hailed specifically from Chamanculo a historic and culturally significant neighborhood in Maputo, known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich cultural heritage.
She was introduced to athletics through a combination of circumstances and opportunities in her early life (like most African athletes then). She had a natural interest in sports and running from a young age, and also playing football with young boys in the neighbourhood. She played football for a local club Aguiad’Ouro where she went on to win the city’s championships in 1987,
her participation was however contested and although FIFA will let her keep the trophy, it was obvious Mutola’s future looked bleak in football. It was at this point she was discovered.
Jose Craveirinha, a poet, was the first to notice her talent and enthusiasm for running, and encouraged her to participate in school sports and athletics.
Maria de Lurdes Mutola began participating in local and regional athletics competitions in Mozambique and her talent quickly became evident as she achieved huge success at these early stages.
The community in her neighborhood of Chamanculo in Maputo recognized her potential and supported her in pursuing athletics. They gave her financial support through contributions for equipment, and travel expenses during competitions. Although they didn’t have state of the art facilities, but she made use of the safe streets and open spaces for practice provided by the neighbourhood, because it was after the civil war in Mozambique.
As she progressed in her career and winning competitions, she became a source of pride to them and also a source of inspiration to her peers and younger ones.
To further develop her talent and gain access to better training facilities and coaching, Maria de Lurdes Mutola moved to Portugal at the age of 15 under the guidance of Malcolm Arnold who played a critical role in the early part of her career. Malcolm was her Mentor and Coach. In Portugal, she began training under the guidance of coach Adelino Gomes who provided valuable guidance, support and connections that helped secure sponsorships, logistics and competitions. Mutola only had to focus on one thing, which was her training and personal improvement. After training for a while in Portugal, she moved to America on winning an IOC organised event where she studied at Springfield High School, Oregon.
Her training and dedication paid off when she qualified to represent her country at the age of 15 in the Seoul Olympics. She did not win a medal in that event, but the experience and motivation she gathered there will forever impact her future career. She qualified for the Barcelona ‘92 Olympics at the age of 19, representing Mozambique in the 800 and 1500 meters and advanced to the finals in both events. This set her up very well as a budding force in middle distance race.
As her career continued to flourish, she won her first World Championship gold medal in the 800 meters at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, and that finally announced her to the world as a force to be reckoned with in middle distance race.
She continued with her superb form, and in Atlanta ’96 she was the Mozambican flagbearer and the favourite to win the 800m event at the games, but she contracted influenza prior to the final, and competed well to finish third.
In Sydney in September 2000, she won gold medal at the Olympics, making her the first ever Mozambican to win gold at the games. The Mozambican government gave her a heroin’s welcome for that feat, with a red carpet reception on returning from the Sydney 2000. She continued her dominance in the event, winning multiple world Championships titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She won 30 medals in all competitions including the Olympics gold and several world and indoor championships meets.
Maria de Lurdes Mutola announced her retirement from competitive athletics in 2008 after a remarkable career that spanned six Olympic Games and World Championships. After retiring from athletics, she returned to her first love, football, where she played for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and also Captained the Mozambican National team at the 10th All-African games, Maputo 2011.
In 2021, she Coached the South African Sensation, Caster Semenya to win silver in the London Olympics. Mutola received numerous awards and honours throughout her career, including being named the IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 1993. She is also a National hero in Mozambique where she is celebtated for her contributions towards sports and a goodwill ambassador for her country.
What a dramatic twist in the life and career of a complete athlete!,
She started as a footballer and later excelled in athletics before ending her sporting career on the football pitch.
References:
- Tembo, Jose (7 November 2000) “The Maputo express” BBC News
- Lygkas, Giannis “1998 African Championships in Athletics” – SportOlympic.com
- Powell, David (29 August 2008) “Mutola bids farewell in Zürich – AF Golden League” IAAF.org
- All Aboard! The Maputo Express at 10th All Africa Games by Sonny Young, SEPTEMBER 12, 2011
(Edited by Bimbo Ajayi)
