Amidst doping scandals, these Olympic athletes have emerged clean!

Almost anybody who’s somebody in track and field is said to be juiced up. So maybe those who finish the last are clean. A look at these inversely epic performances
Eric Moussambani, Equatorial Guinea, Swimming

He was swimming alone, yet almost lost. Moussambini was in Sydney as a goodwill gesture by organisers towards developing nations. The other two swimmers in the 100m freestyle heat were disqualified after false starts, which meant Moussambini swam alone. The 22-year-old had never seen an Olympic size pool before, and struggled to complete the race in an eternal 1:52.72. ‘Eric the Eel’ became an unlikely star, and is the Michael Phelps of underachievement.

Tahmina Kohistani, Afghanistan, Women’s 100m

When Afghanistan’s only female athlete at the London Games arrived at the Olympic village, one of her dreams was to meet Mary Kom. Tahmina showed some of the Indian boxer’s guts as she gamely ran in a hijab in the 100m qualifi ers. Her timing, though, was 14.42 seconds — the slowest in the competition.

Hamadou Djibo Issaka, Nigeria, Rowing

A gardener and swimming pool attendant, Djibo Issaka entered the 2012 Games as a wild card entrant after just three months practice. He finished last with a time of 8:25.56, a vast minute and a half after the winner. He did take something from the experience — the hearts of the spectators.


Image: Getty

Vardan Pahlevanyan, Armenia, Long jump

Greg Rutherford of Britain won the long jump gold medal at the 2012 Olympics with a leap of 8.31 metres (27ft, 3 in). To Carl Lewis, the greatest long jumper of all time with four Olympic golds and who often jumped 28 feet, this was laughable. “They (current jumpers) don’t know how to jump and they’re not trying to because they’re winning medals anyway,” he said. Wonder what he’d say about Pahlevanyan, who budged a mere 6.55 metres in qualifi cation in 2012. Lewis probably jumped that much backward.


Image: Getty

Sogelau Tuvalu, American Samoa, Men’s 100m

With more fat on him than the most expensive steak, Tuvalu arrived at the 2011 World Athletics in Daegu to compete in shot put. He did not qualify, so lined up for the 100m qualifi ers instead. He waddled past the line in 15.66 seconds. Bolt he wasn’t. Slow he was.