Sydney Siame: From Youth Olympic Games Champion to Tokyo hopeful with help from Usain Bolt
In 2014, Zambia's Siame was fastest in the world at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games. Seven years on, he's once again heading to an Olympic stage and with the benefit of advice from "Big Brother" Bolt.
Athletics
There can surely be no greater introduction in athletics than announcing yourself as the fastest in the world.
Zambia’s Sydney Siame did just that at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) back in 2014, when he crossed the 100m line in 10.56 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second ahead of Japan’s Kenta Oshima.
The YOG is an elite sporting event that brings together athletes (ages 15—18) from more than 200 countries around the world for a summer and winter programme. Nanjing 2014, where then 16-year-old Siame blazed over the line in scintillating fashion, was the second-ever summer edition.
Reflecting on the significance of the moment in China three years later, Siame shared with Olympics.com:
“It motivated me a lot. I learned so many things, like how to handle the pressure at that level. It was a very tough competition, but I managed it, it motivated me and I’m looking forward to the future.”
From YOG to the Olympics
Fast forward the clock, and that future has now arrived. With all that motivation to hand, the Zambian 24-year-old is well and truly ready for his next Olympic test.
The national 100m and 200m record holder became the first Zambian to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games, staged in 2021, after he clinched gold in the 200m at the All African Games in 2019.
It was an achievement that also saw him recognised by the Association of National Olympic Committees. He was awarded Best Male Athlete of the 2019 African Games courtesy of his 20.35 run in Rabat.
When it comes to the world stage, Siame is still yet to repeat the same level of success he enjoyed at the junior level those years ago. In his most recent World Championships appearance, Doha in 2019, the Zambian was unable to get out of the heats, finishing 28th overall.
Usain ‘Big Brother’ Bolt
It’s a good job then that the greatest of all time is on hand to offer advice.
Back in 2017, Siame revealed he had an open dialogue with none other than Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man:
“We were together at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in 2015. We chatted, and he encouraged me. He told me that I’m still young and not to get discouraged.”
“I still chat with him through email, and we talk also. When I ran the 100m in 9.88 seconds, he sent a message to congratulate me. He is a good man and he believes in me. He’s like my big brother.”
Unfortunately for Siame, the run time of 9.88s that Bolt had applauded him for was later scratched by the Federation of International Athletics Associations (IAAF).
To date, his personal bests in the 100m and 200m are 10.06 and 20.16 respectively.
Zambia at Tokyo 2020 in 2021
Siame is one of two Zambians competing in athletics at this year's Games. Joining him on the track team will be compatriot Roda Njobvu, who will battle it out with the best in the world in the women’s 100m and 200m.
In total, 24 athletes will be flying the flag for Zambia, a number largely made up by the Copper Queens, Zambia’s women’s football team, who qualified for their first time at an Olympics after they finished top of the 2020 CAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
For Siame, this year’s Olympics has been a long time coming. The locally trained athlete has had his eyes on Tokyo ever since he set the tarmac alight at the YOG back in 2014.
While the global COVID-19 pandemic has hindered Siame’s preparations for the Games in terms of a lack of international; competition, he is not too worried.
In an Instagram live with the National Olympic Committee of Zambia, Siame shared his positive outlook on events:
“We have just accepted it. I have continued my journey to Tokyo, preparing locally and trying to compete locally. It has been difficult but I have tried my level best and I’m looking forward for Tokyo.”