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Isaac Makwala

b. 1985

Former Motswana sprinter

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About Isaac Makwala

Born 1985. Isaac Makwala is a Botswanan athletics competitor, sprinter and runner.

Isaac Makwala (born 24 September 1985 ) is a Botswana sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres.

Career He was the gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. He has also won continental titles at the distance, winning at the 2015 African Games and twice at the African Championships in Athletics (2012, 2014). He has represented his country Botswana at the 2016 Summer Olympics, three times at the Commonwealth Games, and five times at the World Championships in Athletics (2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017). With the Botswana 4 × 400 metres relay team he has won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a silver medal at the 2017 IAAF World Relays and medals at the African Games and Championships.

His personal best time of 43.72,

On July 14, 2017, Isaac Makwala became the first man in history to run a 200 m within 20 seconds and a 400 m within 44 seconds on the same day by running 43.92 in the 400, then 19.77 (no wind) in the 200, 2 hours and 20 minutes later at the Meeting de Atletismo Madrid. He then qualified for the 200 m final after running solo in a time trial of the 200m heat which he had been banned from earlier, placing overall sixth in the final.

He competed in the 400m at the 2020 Summer Olympics, finishing 7th in the final.

Major competitions record 1Did not start in the final

Personal bests 200 metres - 19.77 secs, Madrid, Spain, 14 July 2017 400 metres - 43.72 secs (#2 African all time), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 5 July 2015.

Track records As of 16 September 2024, Makwala holds the following track records for 200 metres and 400 metres.

200 metres LocationTimeWindspeedm/sDate Madrid 19.77 0.0 14/07/2017

400 metres

LocationTimeDate Brazzaville 44.35 15/09/2015 Gold CoastQueensland 44.35 10/04/2018 La Chaux-de-Fonds 43.72NR 05/07/2015 Marrakesh 44.23 12/08/2014

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Badman, Gondolo

People in Isaac Makwala's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Isaac Makwala's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Isaac Makwala?

former Motswana sprinter

When was Isaac Makwala born?

Isaac Makwala was born on 24 September 1985 in Tutume.

What is Isaac Makwala's occupation?

Isaac Makwala is an athletics competitor, sprinter and runner.

What nationality is Isaac Makwala?

Isaac Makwala is Botswanan.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Isaac Makwala

· Wikidata: Q2112691

· DBpedia: Isaac Makwala

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Isaac Makwala. https://biography.guide/isaac-makwala/

MLA: "Isaac Makwala." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/isaac-makwala/.

Chicago: "Isaac Makwala." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/isaac-makwala/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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