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Junior world 400m champion Udeme Okon described winning a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as the best feeling of his young career.
The 20-year-old Florida High School Grade 12 learner was the youngest athlete in the final, running alongside Wayde Van Niekerk, Zakhithi Nene, and Lythe Pillay. Okon, who is coached by Lyle Wentzel, told SABC Sport that winning a bronze medal at senior level ranks among his biggest achievements, admitting he never expected to return home with a medal hanging around his neck.
"It was a good feeling, running against guys that I look up to as well, but it was just a thing of me going out there, keeping my head straight," said Okon.
"Obviously I couldn't see anything, but I could still continue running and I didn't care, that [rain] didn't stop me, I just went out there to do what I enjoy."
Okon, the younger brother of former SuperSport United footballer Ime Okon, ran the race of his life in difficult conditions, but despite a heavy downpour, he managed to hand the baton to his idol and 400m world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk.
He admitted that visibility was almost impossible under the weather conditions.
"I didn't expect it to rain, obviously I compete with glasses, so as soon as I saw the rain, I knew it was going to be a problem – but I was like, you know what, let me just continue running," he explained.
"Getting into the back-straight, I remember not seeing anything and I was just like, 'Damn', but I saw the other athlete cutting in and I just continued running, and told myself, let me just get into that home straight.
"And then seeing Wayde there, waving his hand up to me, I could see him and I was like, yeah, I'm good."
