Lesotho at the 2016 Summer Olympics explained

Noc:LES
Nocname:Lesotho National Olympic Committee
Games:Summer Olympics
Year:2016
Location:Rio de Janeiro
Competitors:8
Sports:3
Flagbearer:Mosito Lehata[1]
Gold:0
Silver:0
Bronze:0
Appearances:auto

Lesotho competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics, except the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, because of its partial support to the African boycott.

Lesotho National Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games since 1996. A total of eight athletes, seven men and one woman, were selected to the Lesotho team to compete only in athletics, boxing, and mountain biking (the nation's Olympic sporting debut in Rio de Janeiro).[2] Track sprinter Mosito Lehata led the Lesotho delegation as the lone returning Olympian from London 2012 and the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1] Lesotho, however, has yet to win its first ever Olympic medal.

Athletics (track and field)

See main article: article, Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification. Lesotho athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):[3] [4]

Track & road events
AthleteEventHeat QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
align=left rowspan=2Mosito LehataMen's 100 m10.254Did not advance
Men's 200 m20.657Did not advance
Namakoe NkhasiMen's 5000 m13:41.9215Did not advance
Tsepo Mathibellealign=left rowspan=2Men's marathon
Lebenya Nkoka2:25:1395
Tsepang SelloWomen's 800 m2:10.228Did not advance

Boxing

See main article: article, Boxing at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Boxing at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification. Lesotho has entered one boxer to compete only in the men's bantamweight division into the Olympic boxing tournament. Inkululeko Suntele had claimed his Olympic spot with a semifinal victory at the 2016 African Qualification Tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon.[5] Meanwhile, flyweight boxer Moroke Mokhotho had received a spare Olympic berth as the next highest-ranked boxer, not yet qualified, in the same meet, due to South Africa's decision not to accept spots through the continental qualifier.

AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Moroke MokhothoMen's flyweight
L 0–3
Did not advance
Inkululeko SunteleMen's bantamweight
L 0–3
Did not advance

Cycling

See main article: article and Cycling at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Mountain biking

Lesotho has received an invitation from Tripartite Commission to send a mountain biker for the men's Olympic cross-country race, signifying the nation's Olympic debut in the sport.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony . International Olympic Committee . 5 August 2016.
  2. News: Mokhothu wishes Team Lesotho ‘good luck’ . The Post . . 22 July 2016 . 19 September 2016.
  3. Web site: iaaf.org – Top Lists . IAAF . 18 April 2015.
  4. Web site: IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Rio 2016 Entry Standards . . 18 April 2015.
  5. News: Weekend’s finalists confirmed as first boxers from African Olympic qualification event secure quota places for Rio . . 18 March 2016 . 19 March 2016.
  6. News: Final list of starting slots allocated for mountain bike and BMX at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games . . 1 July 2016.