Anthonique Strachan, the 30-year-old sprinter, faced an unexpected surprise during the anxious wait to find out if she had qualified for the 200m final at the World Championships.
Strachan completed the 200m semi-final sprint in 22.30 seconds, finishing third in her heat behind Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia and English star Daryll Neita.
Her efforts earned her the last spot in the 200m final, where she will compete against favorites like American Sha'Carri Richardson and Jamaica's Shericka Jackson.
While awaiting the news of her qualification, a still-breathless Strachan took a seat on a sofa to relax. As she leaned back, two horns appeared behind her, belonging to Youhuu, the World Athletics Championship mascot.
The cheeky mascot crept up behind her, giving her the shock of her life. Strachan's reaction was captured on film by BBC cameras, and she eventually saw the funny side of the situation, laughing and hugging the mischievous mascot.
Last summer, Strachan suffered a devastating quad injury at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She had a grade one strain to her left quad during her 200m sprint, forcing her to limp along the rest of the track. She recalled the incident in an interview with The Tribune, expressing her emotional disappointment but also her determination to recover.
Strachan has been undergoing rehabilitation for her quad injury and has been working hard to prepare herself for the championships. Despite the unexpected injury, she remains positive and focused on her goals.
