HE competed with a painful ankle injury and was all tears after powering his way to a triple jump silver medal at the 12th edition of the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Ethiopia last weekend.

And when he shed tears as he stepped up to collect his medal, everyone thought Brian Mada’s were tears of joy as the boy had ignored the pain to win Zimbabwe’s sole medal at the athletics showcase.

They were wrong.

“Those were tears of disappointment,” revealed the 18-year-old soon after returning home to a low-key welcome last week.

“I jumped way below my personal best and that frustrated me,” added the youngster, who leapt 15.30m, a distant jump from his personal best and national record of 15.65m achieved at the Region V Games in Bulawayo last year.

But since he was carrying an ankle injury wasn’t he supposed to feel content?

“Winning a medal is always every athlete’s dream, but I really felt the gold medal was there for the taking. The guy who won the event beat me by only nine centimetres and that made me cry,” he said.

Mada’s positive attitude is palpable and his decision to compete half-fit epitomises his fighting spirit.

“I wasn’t supposed to go to Addis Ababa because of an ankle injury, but I was adamant; it was my dream to go there.

“I got injured a week before Addis Ababa as I sprained my ankle while training at Celebration Centre.

“My coaches did not want me to go; I knew I didn’t have to go, too, but it was a dream I could not let slip though my fingers.

“The coaches saw my determination and took the risk . . . it worked,” said Mada.

The youngster has a number one character; it has to be gold for him in everything he does.

Although he might sound like someone who is self motivated, Mada has athletes he looks up to as well.

United States-based Olympian Ngoni Makusha is his big motivation.

“Makusha is my mentor; he gave me the spikes I am using right now. He inspires me.

“It’s every jumper’s dream to be on top of the world. Personally, I want to be like Jonathan Edwards, the world record triple jumper,” said the boy born in Bulawayo and bred in Rusape.

Mada could soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the world in the United States if all goes well according to plan.

“I never dreamt of going to the United States, but now because of sport it can happen. I am in the process of applying at some colleges with the help of Rebecca Zeiglar Mano, who is like a mother to me, and hopefully in August I will be studying there, while pursuing my career,” said the national junior triple jump record holder.

His national record feat at the Region V Games qualified him for this year’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

“The All Africa Games are a bigger platform and I look forward to doing well. I trust my coach Malvin Moyo; he knows the best for me and I know I will be ready to face the challenge,” said the ever-confident Mada.

Team Zim commended

Sports Reporter

VETERAN athletics coach Silas Muringani has hailed the Zimbabwean team that did business at the 12th edition of the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Ethiopia last weekend.

Muringani, who was the head coach in Ethiopia, was impressed by the manner in which the nine-member team comprising Brian Mada (triple jump), Nyasha Mutsetse (800m),Shawn Banda (100m, 4 x 100), Shingirayi Hlanguyo (100m, 200m, 4×100), Lovejoy Mapfumo (200m 4×100), Tafadzwa Munyawarira (100m, 200m, 4×100), Tinotenda Matiyenga (400m) and Panashe Majuru (200m, 400m) held its own against the continent’s best.

“The team did fairly well; our expectations were surpassed,” said Muringani.

“Brian (Mada) was the toast of the team, winning the only medal for the country. He came second after leaping a distance of 15.30m in triple jump. The athlete who came first leapt 15.39m.

“Shingirayi Hlanguyo, competing in his first 200m in two years, posted a personal best of 21.94, but could only go as far as the semi-finals.

“He is by far the best sprinter among the juniors in Zimbabwe after Michael Songore. At only 17, he is set for greater things.”

Other athletes who did well include 18- year- old Munyawara, who reached the 100m semi-finals and Matiyenga, who recorded his personal best time of 22.24 seconds in the 200m.