Hezekiél Sepeng

Ezekiel Sepeng (* June 30, 1974 in Potchefstroom ) is a South African middle-distance runner. In his special discipline, the 800 - meter race, he won since the mid-1990s several medals at international highlights.

Ezekiel Sepeng began with the Athletics as a competitive sport at the age of 17 years. But it was only after the political changes in South Africa, he was able to participate in international competitions. In the Commonwealth Games 1994, he finished second in the 800 -meter run, and he was the first black South African who ever won a medal in international competitions.

At the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, he won the silver medal. He was the first black South African who won an Olympic medal.

Again, the silver medal he won at the 1999 World Championships in Seville. An injury in the following season, threw him sharply, and he needed some time before he pushed forward again in the top. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney he was given the honor to carry the flag of South Africa at the opening ceremony. However, he finished his race unlucky fourth. The German Nils Schumann was Olympic champion.

The time of his big successes was over it. At the World Championships in Paris in 2003 he finished seventh and also at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, it should be enough for the finals, but not for a medal.

In early 2005 Sepeng tested positive on the doping agent Nandrolone and banned for two years.

Ezekiel Sepeng has a competition weight of 58 kg at a height of 1.78 m.

Personal Best

• 400 m: 46.50 s, 26 June 2003, Potchefstroom
• 600 m: 1:15,13 min, September 10, 2000 Runaway Bay ( Australia)
• 800 m: 1:42,69 min, September 3, 1999 Brussels
• 1000 m: 2:16,47 min, 1 August 2000 Stockholm
• 1500 m: 3:38,24 min, April 12, 1996, Cape Town
• 1 miles: 3:57,33 min, February 16, 1996, Stellenbosch