National 100-meter record holder, Rasheed Saminu, has disclosed that the overwhelming expectations from Ghanaians contribute to their challenges in baton exchanges in major international competitions.
He explained that the immense support and expectations from the public take a toll on them psychologically, which sometimes causes them to lose focus when the baton exchange is due.
Saminu, who recently smashed Benjamin Azamati’s 100-meter record, added that the atmosphere at international athletics meets, like the Olympics, coupled with the weather conditions, puts more pressure on them, which they succumb to and eventually miss their target.
“Sometimes our baton change comes with pressure. Sometimes, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves going into the 4×100, and the expectation from Ghana is a lot of pressure because the whole of Ghana is watching us run at the Olympics, the biggest stage in the world, and they’re expecting big things from us.
“So, all that pressure is on us, but maybe most people don’t know how we got there. Most people don’t know how we train… I think we went to Strasbourg; our camp was at Strasbourg, and it was a bit tense over there. The weather was unpredictable,” he told 3Sports.
Ghana’s 4×100 relay team has been underperforming at various international athletics meets prompted by their poor baton exchanges at crucial moments.
SB/AE
Watch Rasheed Saminu’s remarks below:
One-on-one with Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Ghana’s fastest man.
“Our baton exchange [problems] comes with pressure.”
Saminu tells @Bill_Eshun about Ghana’s 4*100m baton exchange challenges. #3Sports pic.twitter.com/swpusTQzrh
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) June 7, 2025
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