Three days after 2012 London Olympics, Sondershausen (Germany) as its tradition, is the first place in Germany to immediately host participants of world competitions.

As tradition, the Olympians of the just ended London 2012 Olympics assembled for a track and field events in Goeldner Stadium in Sondershausen. The promising young Michael Owusu-Peprah was invited by the Directors to compete with the Olympians.

Michael won this recognition after making the headlines in most German news papers for breaking many stadium records. Among them is his winning gold during the Badische Masters in both 100m and 200m, and leading his USC club to win silver in the 4 x 100.

Michael improved his performance by competing with Ghana’s Tim Abeyie (10,65) in Schifflingen (Luxemburg) to place second with 10,68 sec.
One needs not to be told of the big challenge ahead of the young and calm Michael formerly of Mfantsipim school, when the invitation came for Michael to participate in a competition packed with Olympians. On the list were all the 4 x 100 German Olympic team, and Olympians from other European countries.

Michael qualified through to Finals with all these Olympians. Being an under-dog, Michael was given track 6 with the Olympian favorites like Alexander Kosenkow and Julian Reus occupying tracks 2 and 3 respectively. When Mattias Lindner (track 5) fault started, Michael was left alone on his no-man’s track.
When the Commando pulled his trigger, One Mike, as he is affectionately called by his Botwe mates, was not perturbed by the fact that he has been left on a no-man’s track, but challenged the most favorites to place second.
Below is the standing of the finals in which the young and calm promising Michael placed second:

100 m Finale Wind: +0,2

1 Julian Reus TV Wattenscheid 01 GER 1988 10,22 sec
2 Michael Owusu-Peprah USC Heidelberg GHA 1994 10,42 sec
3 Alexander Kosenkow TV Wattenscheid 01 GER 1977 10,47 sec
4 Kamil Masztak POL 1984 10,48 sec
5 Robert Kubaczyk POL 1986 10,62 sec
6 Mattias Lindner SC Magdeburg GER 1987 disq. 162,7

When Julian Reus and Alexander Kosenkow congratulated Michael for the challenge, they further asked why he was not seen in the Olympics, but Michael sarcastically replied, “ I am young, I have more years ahead of me”.
The Directors felt justified to have given a chance for a youngster to proof himself. His head trainer, Mr. Walter Abmayr, joked that he knew what Michael could do, that is why he risked the 4 hours drive to Sondershausen.

Reported by: Onuapa Francis Owusu Peprah
Radio Akwaaba FM-Mannheim/Germany.