Olympian Profile: Emmanuel Matadi


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The most experienced athlete out of the Minnesota Olympians, Matadi had graduated from Saint Paul Johnson High School before any of the other track and field athletes above had even entered high school.

Matadi will again represent Liberia on the international stage just as he did at the 2016 Olympics and the 2016 African Championships. He holds the Liberian National Records in the 100m (9.93), the Indoor 60m (6.58), and Indoor 200m (21.10). 

This year Matadi had put together some impressive performances. He has posted a 10.01 in the 100m and times of 20.20 (wind-aided) and 20.44 in the 200m. This puts him 26th in the world for the 100m and 69th in the world for the 200m. 

Given his 2021 performances, it seems as if he would be a good bet to make it to the semifinals in the 100m. In 2016 you needed a time of 10.20 or faster to advance to the semifinals. In 2016 he ran in Heat 4 and finished in 6th place with a time of 10.31 to not advance. The winner of his heat? Bronze Medalist Andre De Grasse. 

In the 200m, Matadi will have a harder time advancing. Given his season-best of 20.44, he would be right near the line of advancing on time given the 2016 standards or depending on his heat he could qualify for the semifinals by placing first or second in his heat. In 2016 he ran a 20.49 to place 5th in his quarterfinal heat. 

While at Minnesota State University Mankato, Matadi was the 2016 DII Outdoor National Champion in the 100m and 200m. While at Saint Paul Johnson High School, Matadi was the 2009 Class AA State Champion for the 100m dash.