Ogando nearly beat Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in the 200m at the Silesia Diamond League classic after making odd decision to change the colour of his hair.
Dominican Republic sprinter Alexander Ogando has unveiled a bold new look and an even bolder ambition after narrowly missing out on victory to Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in the 200m race at the Silesia Diamond League classic on Sunday.
Tebogo, the newly crowned Olympic champion, set a meeting record of 19.83 seconds, with Ogando finishing a close second in 19.86 seconds, a new personal best for the 29-year-old sprinter.
Tebogo's race was nothing short of dramatic. The 21-year-old started off with a sluggish bend, trailing behind Kenny Bednarek of the United States and Ogando.
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However, Tebogo unleashed a powerful finish, overtaking his competitors to claim victory by the slimmest of margins. Bednarek, the Olympic silver medalist, took third place with a time of 20.00 seconds, while Erriyon Knighton of the USA finished fourth in 20.07 seconds.
Ogando, who missed out on a podium finish in Paris a fortnight ago, spoke candidly to the media after the race, revealing the significance of his new gold hair color.
The sprinter believes this change symbolizes his emotions and untapped potential as he sets his sights on dethroning Tebogo and capturing the world crown in Tokyo next year.
"I changed the color of my hair to gold, and I believe this new style represents all my emotions and real potential," Ogando explained.
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"The hardcore fans really get behind this yellow-golden color, so big thank you to all of them. I feel great about having run sub-19.90. I have to thank God for enabling me to run this pace. Honestly, I am over the moon."
Ogando's performance in Silesia marks a significant rebound from his showing at the Paris Olympics, where he finished fifth in the 200m final with a time of 20.02 seconds.
Although he did not break the coveted 20-second barrier in Paris, his Olympic run earned him a diploma, recognizing his achievement as one of the top eight runners in the event. In Silesia, however, Ogando proved his mettle, shaving crucial fractions off his time and setting a new personal record.
Reflecting on his journey, Ogando expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete at such a high level. "In Paris, we did not really achieve what we had worked for, but I am very thankful for this opportunity to compete here and to give it my all," he said.
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Looking ahead, Ogando revealed his plans for the remainder of the season, with a clear focus on improving his performances in both the 100m and 200m events. "The time is far from being perfect, but here we are again, and I am planning both the 100 and 200m in Zurich," he announced.