While competing, two athletes have also broken the national record in 800 metres, firstly in the men's event in 1987 and then in the women's in 2003.

[4] At the same Games, Kenneth Dzekedzeke set a national record of 1 minute 49 seconds in the men's 800 metres.

[5] In 2003, Gertrude Banda repeated the achievement by breaking the national record in women's event.

[7] This led to the country being barred from competing in the Games in both 2011 and 2015 due to debt with the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA).

[8] More recently, Malawi has invested more in international sport and was commended by the organisers of the Games for their structures.