Gina Bass Bittaye: reading a sprinter’s achievements

Two sprint events, distinct results

Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye represents The Gambia in sprinting. GRTS reported her gold medals in the women’s 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2024 African Games in Ghana. An African Games result should be named as such; it is not an Olympic medal or an African Championships result.

Paris 2024, with the round attached

World Athletics’ Paris 2024 results record her winning her first-round 100m heat in 11.01 seconds on 2 August. In the semi-finals the following day, she placed third in her race in 11.10 seconds. A placing in a heat or semi-final is not the overall final placing.

In the 200m, she ran 22.84 seconds in round one and 22.66 seconds in her semi-final. These are results from that competition. They should not be labelled as her current personal best or a present national record without checking the relevant record and its date.

Learn to read a result

Write the athlete, event, competition, date, round, placing and time in separate columns. Ask what information is missing before comparing two performances. In sprinting, conditions and the rules for records also matter; a fast number without context can be misleading.

A conversation about opportunity

What support would a young runner need to stay in education and enjoy sport? Ask learners to consider access to coaching, a suitable place to train and encouragement from the people around them. Invite learners to suggest practical ways a school or club could support participation.