Nelson Mandela Down with Tuberculosis
On August 16, 1988, Nelson Mandela, the imprisoned black nationalist leader, was diagnosed with tuberculosis at nearly 70 years old. He had been ill for days, coughing up blood, before being moved to a segregated wing at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town.
His lawyer, Ismail Ayob, noted Mandela's deteriorating condition. Despite doctors initially downplaying his illness as a chronic lung inflammation, political tensions arose over his treatment. The apartheid government, led by President Pieter W. Botha, refused Mandela's family and personal doctors access to him, insisting on controlling his care, which fueled uncertainty about his chances of recovery amid growing international condemnation of his negligent condition and the South Africa's apartheid regime.
Usain Bolt Sets New World Record In Germany
Also, on this day in 2009, then 22-year-old Usain Bolt broke his own world record in the 100-meter dash. The Jamaican sprinter, known for his lightning-bolt pose and charismatic demeanor, clocked in at 9.58 seconds at the World Championships in Berlin. This incredible feat made him the first person to complete the race in under 9.6 seconds.
The previous year, Bolt had set the world record at 9.69 seconds during the Beijing Olympics, where he became the first to run the 100 meters in under 9.7 seconds. His extraordinary speed and vibrant personality made him very popular around the world.
Other key events on this day
1. Madonna wedded Sean Penn on her 27th birthday - 1985
2. Soldiers in military jets opened fire on Morocco King, Hassan II's B727 in a coup attempt - 1972
3. 8.6 earthquake destroyed Valparaiso Chile, fire killed 20,000 - 1906
4. President Lincoln prohibited Union states from trading with Confederacy - 1861
5. U.S. surrendered Fort Detroit to the British - 1812
6. Famous baseball legend, George Herman "Babe Ruth" died - 1948
7. Plane crashed into a US highway, killed 156 people - 1987
8. The First Transatlantic Telegraph Message was sent by British Queen Victoria to US President, James Buchanan - 1858
9. Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin died - 2003
10. Shah of Persia, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Princess Soraya fled to Baghdad and Rome - 1953
11. Ronaldo played his first game ever with Manchester United - 2003
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