Thirty years after Namibia's historic success at the 1996 Olympic Games, the Bank of Namibia has completed a tribute decades in the making. 

The central bank presented Olympic legend Frankie Fredericks with a commemorative silver coin that was minted in his honour in 1996 but was never formally handed to him.           

Born in Windhoek on 2 October 1967, Frankie Fredericks could never have imagined that one day, the world would know his name.

Like many other children from Katutura, young Fredericks showed natural talent in both football and athletics.

Nonetheless, it was on the track where his extraordinary gift began to shine. 

It was a gift that would change his life and ultimately help write a new chapter in Namibia's sporting history.

Fredericks rose from humble beginnings in Namibia to the grandest stages of world athletics, becoming one of the finest sprinters of his generation.

He became the first Namibian to stand on an Olympic podium and placed Namibia on the global sporting map.

"If it was not for the Olympic Committee, I think it would have been very difficult for me to be where I'm at, because they believed in me before I even believed in myself. When I look back, my mind always returns to Calitola, and that's why I wanted to make sure I honour the people that were there at the beginning. It allowed me to dream beyond the boundaries of circumstances, and they taught me that no journey worth taking is ever taken alone," emphasised Fredericks. 

Every moment the world looked up and saw Namibia's flag flying with pride. 

His courage, his excellence. and his unforgettable legacy.

Earlier this year, the Bank of Namibia decided to honour this exceptional hero, as explained by the financial institution's boss, Ebson Uanguta.

"The coin itself is a rich symbolism. On one side, it bears the image of a cheetah, representing the speed, the strength, the determination and also the resilience. The qualities that define Mr Fredericks throughout this current. The reverse, of course, of that coincides with the coat of arms of the Republic of Namibia. That symbolises our sovereignty, our unity and the national identity. Together, all this, they capture the enduring connection between an exceptional athlete and the nation he represented."