the semifinal and finished sixth in 20.61 and unable to reach the final although he was a serious medal contender. This injury also disabled him from competing at the African Athletics Championships in Tunisia where compatriot Eric Milazar won the 400m. In 2003, Buckland bounced back at the international scene where he took third place in the 200m at the Rome Golden League in 20.48. He then won the 200m at the KBC Night of Athletics, Belgium in a time of 20.33. He finished second at the Athens Grand Prix in 20.32. Other performances include fourth place at the Gaz de France Golden League in Paris, France in 20.42. He was then promoted to third place after the disqualification of an American athlete due to doping. At the Meeting International Resisprint, Buckland won the 200m in 20.29, a new meeting record which he still holds today. At the 2003 9th IAAF World Athletics Championships, Buckland reached the final for the second time finishing fifth in 20.41. He broke the national record in the quarterfinal, running 20.06 seconds, making him the third fastest 200m sprinter on the African continent. He also ran 20.11 in his semifinal race finishing second behind American Darvis Patton and automatically qualified for the final. After his return from the World Championships, Buckland participated at the Indian Ocean Island Games where he won three gold medals in the 100m (10.60), the 200m (20.64) and 4 × 100 m relay (39.23). He broke the Games record in the 200m qualification in 20.46, a record that still holds today as well as in the 4 × 100 m relay where he anchored to 39.23. After the Games, Buckland was selected by the IAAF to participate at the first IAAF World Athletics Final, the second most important athletics competition in the world. This competition was held in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He took the bronze medal in the 200m finishing third in 20.44 and received the IAAF certificate of honour for being among the 10 best 200m athlete in the world. Buckland is one of the few athletes who has reached the IAAF World Championships in Athletics 200 m final three times consecutively. He did so in 2001, 2003, and 2005. Buckland's international career started in 1999 where he participated in the 1999 World Championships in Athletics held in Sevilla, Spain. After winning numerous international meetings in 2000, he went on