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Lewis, a nine-time Olympic champion, coached Shaun Maswanganyi, one of the members of the South African men's 4 x 100m relay team that delivered silver in Paris earlier this month.
South African sprinter Shaun Maswanganyi has shed light on the pivotal role that American sprint legend Carl Lewis played in helping his country secure a silver medal in the 4x100m relay final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Maswanganyi, who ran the second leg of the relay, played a crucial role in South Africa’s successful race, handing the baton to Bradley Nkoana, who then passed it to Akani Simbine. The team ultimately clinched silver, narrowly losing to Canada, anchored by Andre De Grasse.
Maswanganyi, who trains under Carl Lewis, explained how the words of wisdom from the nine-time Olympic gold medalist inspired him and his teammates to perform at their best.
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In an interview with 947 Joburg, Maswanganyi shared, "He was just like, ‘make this opportunity count. Not many people are blessed to be in a team that has the potential to win a medal, the 4 by 1 at the Olympics.’"
Carl Lewis, who now serves as the head track and field coach at the University of Houston—where Maswanganyi and bronze medalist Louie Hinchcliffe train—provided invaluable advice to both athletes before the race.
According to Maswanganyi, Lewis's words were a significant factor in their performance. "He also spoke to us afterward, gave us a heart-to-heart conversation, and told us he was so proud of us," Maswanganyi revealed.
"You did your best individually, and we know where to work on and move on individually, but you can go home with something—you and Louis."
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Reflecting on what it’s like to be coached by such a legendary figure, Maswanganyi described Lewis as both a motivator and an inspiration.
"He knows what it takes to be great, and that is why at times, he has to be hard on us because he knows how much discipline, consistency, and perseverance it takes," he explained. "You will get a lot of losses along the way, but you just gotta make sure you get more wins than losses."
When asked about his performance in the second leg of the race, where he recorded the second-fastest split, Maswanganyi acknowledged that while the baton exchange could have been smoother, he did the best he could under the circumstances.
"It is tough to say because I feel like I did the best I could in that leg," he said. "I got the stick in quite an uncomfortable position, but I tried the best I could.
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“These guys were burning tar, so I said, ‘Okay, let me keep going.’ When I gave it to Bradley, I think I could have given it to him smoother, but I was moving."
Maswanganyi added that while the baton exchange may have cost them some time, it is something the team can work on for future races. Despite this, their efforts in Paris resulted in a well-deserved silver medal, a testament to the hard work and guidance of their legendary coach, Carl Lewis.
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