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Raymond Jaravaza
AT only 16, a rising athletics star is already being hailed as the next sprint champion Usain Bolt, and three countries are jostling for his signature to represent them at national level.
Zimbabwe, Australia and France are not wasting time in trying to woo youngster Sasha Zhoya — a three-discipline champion making waves in sprint, pole vault and hurdles — into their respective corners.
Born in Perth to a Zimbabwean father and a French mother, the immensely talented teenager caught the attention of Australia after breaking national records at will in the Under-18 110m hurdles, breaking the Under-18 world record in the pole vault and grabbing the Aussie Under-20 200m title.
At 14, Zhoya was signed by the Western Australia Institute of Sport — an elite sports institute set up in 1983.
Two years on he is considered a triple threat in sprint, pole vault and hurdles.
“I have never seen anything like this in all my years as a coach. This kind of talent is very rare,” Paul Burgess, a WA Institute of Sport coach told an Australian television station.
Being a citizen of three countries, Zhoya faces the difficult task of choosing the nation that he will represent.
“We have had inquiries from France, here in Australia and even the people of Zimbabwe gave me a call as well,” said the youngster’s mother Catherine.
It’s a decision he has shelved until the end of the year. “My mother is from France and was into skiing so I get my athletic side from her, my dad is from Zimbabwe, he was a musician so I guess that’s where I get my rhythm and dance.
“It’s a difficult decision to make so I’ll wait until the end of the year. I need time to think about it,” said the dance student at the John Curtin College of the Arts.
His mother reckons Zhoya has a darker side to his personality that makes him fiercely competitive and a results-driven teen.
“He has this dark side that Usain Bolt and all these super stars have; he has been like that since he was a child.”
His sprint coach Lindsay Bunn attributes Zhoya’s success to hard work.
“A lot of people say Sasha is a brilliant talent but I always say there are so many talented athletes out there but the difference is that he works hard, doesn’t take anything for granted and stays grounded and humble,” said Bunn.
Zhoya has a sister, Munashe, and works three part-time jobs to support his athletics career.
Online Reporter