Barbora lit the flame, Nkomo ready to run with it

Tinashe Kusema

Zimpapers Sports Hub

WHEN Wayne Nkomo talks about javelin, you can see the spark in her eyes. There is power in her story, precision in her throws and a clear inspiration behind it all.

For Zimbabwe’s javelin ace, chasing greatness means walking a path paved by a legend. And in her world, that legend is Barbora Spotakova, a two-time Olympic champion and one of the greatest female javelin throwers of all time.

“Yes, Barbora is my role model in the sport,” said Nkomo.

“I just love her. I admire her technique, her calmness and the focus she exudes out there on the field. She inspires me.”

Spotakova, now retired, is the only woman with two Olympic javelin gold medals, having claimed victory in 2008 and 2012.

The only other to win two was East Germany’s Ruth Fuchs in the 1970s, but her legacy remains clouded by her admission to steroid use.

That makes Spotakova the undisputed greatest of all time in Nkomo’s eyes. But there is a bittersweet twist.

“I’ll never get to compete against her,” said Nkomo.

Spotakova retired in 2022, but her influence lives on. Her world record throw of 72,28 metres, set in 2008, remains untouched. And for Nkomo, that mark is not just a statistic; it is a goal. In fact, Nkomo sees a lot of herself in Spotakova. Both did not start out in javelin.

“My first love wasn’t javelin,” said the 27-year-old. “I used to play netball as a defender.”

She tried shot put and discus before being nudged towards javelin by a long-forgotten coach.

“I can’t even remember his name, but he saw the strength in my arm and suggested I try javelin. After a few throws, everything just clicked. It felt natural, and I’ve never looked back,” she said.

Like her idol, Nkomo took to javelin like a fish to water. Her rise came quickly.

“I started competing seriously in 2013, representing Zimbabwe at the COSSASA (Confederation of School Sport Associations of Southern Africa) games. I think we hosted that year, and then the next year I went to Botswana for the same event,” she recalled.

“That’s where I won my first gold medal.”

Then came the moment that would etch her name into local athletics history.

“It was at the Region 5 Games in 2016 in Angola. Everything about that day felt different. The throw felt clean and powerful. I collapsed when they announced I’d broken the national record. It was overwhelming, but I was very proud,” she said.

That throw, 40,72 metres, still stands as Zimbabwe’s national record.

Nkomo is now gearing up for her next big challenge: the Southern Region Senior Championships, set for July 26 to 27 on home soil.

And that setting feels symbolic. Her first serious meet was in Zimbabwe. Now, her next big leap could begin right here
again.

“I’m looking forward to testing myself against the best in the region,” she said.

“This meet will show me where I stand, and how I handle pressure. Competing at home is never easy. There’s always extra weight on your shoulders.

“But I’m aiming for a personal best and a podium finish. I want to soak in the moment and learn from others.”

Beyond that, Nkomo’s ambitions are clear, the World Championships, and one day, the Olympics. Just like Barbora.