Vanuatu at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Vanuatu at the Olympic Games

Flag of Vanuatu
IOC code  VAN
NOC Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee
Websitewww.oceaniasport.com/vanuatu
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
Competitors 2 in 1 sport
Flag bearer Moses Kamut
Medals Gold
0		 Silver
0		 Bronze
0		 Total
0
Olympic history (summary)
Summer Games

Vanuatu competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, which was held from 13 to 29 August 2004. This marked the nation's fifth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Two track and field athletes, Moses Kamut and Katura Marae, who were selected to the team by wildcard places, as the nation had no athletes that met either the "A" or "B" qualifying standards. Kamut was selected as flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Neither of the two athletes progressed beyond the heats, both of whom finishing last in their respective heats.

Background

Vanuatu participated in five Summer Olympic games between its debut in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[1] Vanuatu would participate in the Summer Olympics from 13 to 29 August 2004.[2] The Vanuatu National Olympic Committee (NOC) selected two athletes via wildcards. Usually, an NOC would be able to enter up to 3 qualified athletes in each individual event as long as each athlete met the "A" standard, or 1 athlete per event if they met the "B" standard.[3] However, since Vanuatu had no athletes that met either standard, they were allowed to select two athletes, one of each gender, as wildcards. The two athletes that were selected to compete in the Athens games were Moses Kamut in the Men's 400 meters and Katura Marae in the Women's 100 meters.[2] Kamut was flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[4]

Athletics

Making his Summer Olympics debut, Moses Kamut was notable for carrying the Vanuatu flag at the opening ceremony.[5][4] He qualified for the Athens Games via a wildcard place as his best time, 48.36 seconds at the 2004 Oceania Athletics Championships Men's 400 meters, was 2.41 seconds slower than the "B" qualifying standard required.[6][3] He competed on 20 August in Heat 7 against seven other athletes. He ran a time of 48.14 seconds, finishing last despite achieving a seasonal best time.[7] Pakistan's Sajid Muhammad ranked ahead of him (47.45 seconds) in a heat led by Jamaica's Michael Blackwood (45.23 seconds). Overall, Kamut placed 52 out of 63 athletes competing and was 2.26 seconds behind the slowest athlete that progressed to the semi-finals. Therefore, that was the end of his competition.[8]

The Athens Olympic Stadium, where Kamut and Marae competed in track and field events

Competing at her first Summer Olympics, Katura Marae was the youngest athlete in the 2004 Athens Games athletics and the youngest ever athlete to represent the nation aged 14 years and 261 days, the latter a record that still stands today.[9][10][1] She qualified for the Athens Games after being granted a wildcard place, without competing in any notable sporting event.[11] She competed on 20 August in the Women's 100 meters in Heat 1. She posted a time of 13.49 seconds, achieving a seasonal best time, but still finishing last of the 8 athletes that competed in the heat.[12] Cambodia's Tit Linda Sou placed ahead of her (13.47 seconds) in a heat led by Jamaica's Aleen Bailey (11.20 seconds). Overall, Marae was 2.06 seconds behind the slowest athlete that progressed, therefore not advancing to the quarter-finals.[12][13]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Moses Kamut 400 m 48.14 8 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Katura Marae 100 m 13.49 8 Did not advance

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sports Reference - Countries - Vanuatu". Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sports Reference - Athens 2004 - Vanuatu". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Athens 2004 Entry Standards". IAAF. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "2004 Athens: Flag Bearers for the opening ceremony". Olympics. 13 August 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Moses Kamut". Sports Reference. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Oceania Championships". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2004 – Men – 400 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2004 – Men – 400 meters – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Katura Marae". Sports Reference. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Athletics at the 2004 Athina Summer Games". Sports Reference. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "IAAF - Athletes - Vanuatu - Katura Marae - Honours". IAAF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2004 – Women – 100 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2004 – Women – 100 meters – Quarter-Finals – Startlist". IAAF. Retrieved 3 March 2015.