Summer Olympics 1972: Munich, Germany
On August 31st, 1972; 22 year-old John Akii-Bua (50.35 seconds) won in the fourth heat of the five Round One 400 meters-hurdles heats. Stavros Tziortzis (50.54s) who had earlier during the same year beaten a sickly Akii into second place, at a track meet in Europe, finished second (50.54). Olympic medal hope William (Bill) Koskei of Kenya, who won Uganda the silver medal in the same event at the Commonwealth of Nations’ Games in Edinburgh in 1970, had disappointingly finished fourth (50.58) in the second heat of this Round One. Koskei was eliminated from moving on to the semi-finals. The top three finishers of each of the five heats, plus one hurdler with the next best time, moved on to the Semi-Final Round of sixteen hurdlers.
On September 1st, 1972, Akii (49.25 seconds) won in the first of the two Semi-Final heats. It is notable that in this heat, Akii-Bua was drawn in lane 2 to race against two other top medal hopes: David Peter Hemery of Great Britain who was the Olympic champion and world record holder; and Ralph Mann of the United States who had the world leading time in the intermediate hurdles and was ranked number one in the world at the event. Akii-Bua commendably beat Ralph Vernon Mann (49.53), and Dave Hemery (49.66). Here, Akii-Bua raced with these arch-rivals for the first time ever. Akii-Bua’s confidence that he would win, was reinforced. The top four finishers of each of the Semi-Final heats were the finalists. Akii-Bua aimed to smash the world record by about a second.
On September 2nd, 1972, Akii (47.82 seconds), despite being drawn into disadvantageously tight lane 1 won in the final in a new Olympic and World record. He became the first man ever to officially run the race in under 48 seconds. In a photo-finishing fight, Ralph Mann (48.51) was second and Dave Hemery (48.52) won the bronze. After four decades Akii still holds the 47.82 Uganda record; and this is still one of the best times recorded by an African hurdler. Akii has remained Africa’s only Olympic gold medal winning hurdler; the only African with an Olympic gold in a track event that is less than 800m.
Summer Olympics 1976: Montreal, Canada
In July 1976 in Montreal, Uganda boycotted the Olympic Games, alongside nearly 30 mostly African countries. The boycott was over the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not banning New Zealand from the Olympics after the NZ national rugby team toured apartheid South Africa earlier in the year. Akii-Bua had trained hard, in the same year established a personal best and Uganda record in the 400m flat. He was looking forward to defending his Olympic title. Fast improving Edwin Moses of the United States had become the main international attraction among the intermediate hurdlers. Moses would at these Olympics win the gold and smash the Ugandan’s world record. It is also notable that In the third week of June 1976, Akii-Bua’s thigh (left hamstring) muscle tore. This injury could have reduced his chances at competing or performing well at 1976 Olympics.
Summer Olympics 1980: Moscow, Soviet Union
At the Olympics, on July 24th 1980 at the Grand Arena in the Central Lenin Stadium Area in Moscow, Akii-Bua now 30 years of age was placed in the first heat of three in Round One of the 400 meters-hurdles. The first four leaders in each heat, plus four with the next fastest time would move on to the semi final round of 16. Akii-Bua (50.87), long past his prime was fifth. After all three heats, the times were tallied, and Akii-Bua was able to move on to the semi-finals. Notably, over sixty countries including the United States, most rallying around protesting the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, did not compete in Moscow. Competition was significantly reduced.
On July 25th, 1980; the Ugandan (51.10), running in the second of the two Semi-Final heats was beaten into seventh place and eliminated from moving on to the final. The eight hurdlers with the fastest times were the finalists.
On July 31, 1980; Akii-Bua competed in Round One as part of Uganda 4x400m relay team. Uganda was placed in the second of the three heats. The top two finishing countries of each heat, plus the next two fastest countries would be the finalists. Uganda (3:07.0) was fifth and was eliminated from moving on to the finals. This would be the last time Akii would compete at the Olympics.