Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe’s top triathlete Andie Kuipers takes to the starting line today at the Africa Triathlon Championships, hoping to earn points to improve her ranking as she chases qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The championships started yesterday with the youth men and women among the races lined up for the day.
Zimbabwe were represented by John Goddard in the youth men’s.
However, today, all eyes will be on Kuipers, who is one of the country’s prospects for the LA28 Olympics, as she takes to the course in the elite women’s race.
Today’s race is not just about the African title but also Olympic qualification.
The event offers significant points towards qualification.
While the winner is guaranteed points, the rest of the participants have to finish within eight percent of the winner’s time to get points. Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Kuipers said her target is to walk away with some points today.
“This race is very important in terms of qualification. It has the most amount of points I can get.”
She expressed confidence in her build-up, having participated in a number of events ahead of today’s race.
“In terms of my preparation, I am really happy with where I am at now.
“I had about two months at high altitude in Switzerland, as well as I did some racing in the French Grand Prix, which allowed me to have more exposure racing in those big packs against a really high level of competition.
“So, in that way, I feel really prepared.
“Unfortunately, about a month ago I had a bike crash where I got a concussion. So, that set me back about a week in training, and I have had a few complications with my neck.
“But I don’t feel like that will affect me going into this weekend.
“I feel really strong and just excited to hopefully show the work I have been putting in.”
She did two French Grand Prix events, the Swiss Cup in Nyon, Switzerland, where she placed second, and raced at the European Cup in Derry, Ireland.
“I think I have a bit of high expectations for myself going into this because it’s my A race. And really these four months leading up to it, this is the only race that’s been in the back of my mind.
“I am not putting pressure on myself, but I am expecting, even on a bad day, to have a good performance.
“I know the swim will be crucial, so when I get out it’s just going to be about minimising the gap. And I am just going to have to do everything I can on the bike to minimise that.
“And then my run is in a really good place. So, I am feeling confident when I get off the bike that I will have a good day.
“It’s going to be very hot and super windy, so I am happy with the tough conditions. The tougher the better for me,” Kuipers said.
The field includes the likes of South Africa’s pair of Shanae Williams and Hannah Newman as well as Nora Romina Nadas from Hungary, who is among the top-ranked participants at this event.
Kuipers is, however, not reading much into that. National coach Pamela Fulton, who is in Egypt to support Kuipers, said: “Shanae and Hannah are racing, but there is also a Hungarian lady who is competing, so that adds a new dimension to the race.
“I believe she is fairly good, but that’s not going to affect Andie. She is just going to focus on her own performance.
“She’s been training really hard; her swim, bike, run, everything has improved. So, her focus is to just go there, believe in herself knowing that she has done the training, and just hope for a good day.
“So, to get her points, it just depends; she has just got to finish within eight per cent of the winner. So regardless of whether it’s the Hungarian lady who is not from Africa or an African lady, she still has to be within eight per cent of the winner,” added Fulton.
