Lesotho at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Lesotho at the 2016 Summer Olympics
IOC code	LES
NOC	Lesotho National Olympic Committee
Website	lnoc.tripod.com
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors	8 in 3 sports
Flag bearer	Mosito Lehata[1]
Medals	Gold Silver Bronze Total 0 0 0 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Lesotho competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics, with the exception of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, because of its partial support to the African boycott.

Lesotho National Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games since 1996. A total of eight athletes, seven men and one woman, were selected to the Lesotho team to compete only in athletics, boxing, and mountain biking (the nation's Olympic sporting debut in Rio de Janeiro).^[2] Track sprinter Mosito Lehata led the Lesotho delegation as the lone returning Olympian from London 2012 and the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.^[1] Lesotho, however, has yet to win its first ever Olympic medal.

Athletics (track and field)

Lesotho athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):^[3][4]

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
• NM = No mark

Men

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Mosito Lehata	100 m	Bye		10.25	4	Did not advance
	200 m	20.65	7	N/A		Did not advance
Namakoe Nkhasi	5000 m	13:41.92	15	N/A				Did not advance
Tsepo Mathibelle	Marathon	N/A						DNF
Lebenya Nkoka		N/A						2:25:13	95

Women

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Tsepang Sello	800 m	2:10.22	8	Did not advance

Boxing

Lesotho has entered one boxer to compete only in the men's bantamweight division into the Olympic boxing tournament. Inkululeko Suntele had claimed his Olympic spot with a semifinal victory at the 2016 African Qualification Tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon.^[5] Meanwhile, flyweight boxer Moroke Mokhotho had received a spare Olympic berth as the next highest-ranked boxer, not yet qualified, in the same meet, due to South Africa's decision not to accept spots through the continental qualifier.

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Moroke Mokhotho	Men's flyweight	Kharroubi (MAR) L 0–3	Did not advance
Inkululeko Suntele	Men's bantamweight	Mhamdi (TUN) L 0–3	Did not advance

Cycling

Mountain biking

Lesotho has received an invitation from Tripartite Commission to send a mountain biker for the men's Olympic cross-country race, signifying the nation's Olympic debut in the sport.^[6]

Athlete	Event	Time	Rank
Phetetso Monese	Men's cross-country	Did not finish

References

1. "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
2. "Mokhothu wishes Team Lesotho 'good luck'". Lesotho: The Post. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
3. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
4. "IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Rio 2016 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
5. "Weekend's finalists confirmed as first boxers from African Olympic qualification event secure quota places for Rio". AIBA. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
6. "Final list of starting slots allocated for mountain bike and BMX at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games". UCI. Retrieved 1 July 2016.