tawandamusarurwa
Ellina Mhlanga
AS this year’s edition of the World Athletics Championships draws closer, for Fortunate Chidzivo, it is another chance to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best athletes.
Chidzivo qualified for the women’s marathon through rankings. She is the only female athlete in a small but competitive Team Zimbabwe contingent for the championships, which are scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27.
Her first appearance at the World Championships was in London in 2017, after she ran within the qualifying time of 2 hours 41minutes 56 seconds in Cape Town, South Africa, a year earlier.
The qualifying time for women then was 2 hours 45 minutes. For the 2023 competition, the qualifying time was 2 hours 28 minutes, and, unlike in 2017, when she ran within the qualifying time, this time around, she made it through the rankings, after missing the qualifying standard. It came as a surprise as she thought it was all over for her. As she prepares for the forthcoming meet, Chidzivo has been building on some lessons picked up in 2017.
“There was a lot I learned from the previous championships, though I ended up dehydrated in hospital, as I started the race too fast with the Kenyans and Ethiopians,” she told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
“I started with the pace I had never trained for.
“And I had also over-trained, thinking that it was a major competition and a life-changing event.
“So, this time around, I have tried my best not to put too much pressure on myself.
“The pressure comes with (the fact that some countries are now advanced in) sports science and we are far behind; that makes these World championships much tougher than before.” Chidzivo has been in camp together with Isaac Mpofu and Ngonidzashe Ncube, who are set to represent the country in the men’s marathon. Just like in 2019 in Qatar, Zimbabwe will have one female representative.
The number of local female athletes qualifying for such major competitions continues to worryingly decline. At the Qatar Championships, Rutendo Nyahora was the only woman who made the cut.
There was no Zimbabwean female athlete for the championships in Oregon, United States, last year. Chidzivo believes the major setback has been lack of unity of purpose among female athletes. “If we were working together, just like how the men do, it was going to be easy . . .
“For example, you will never see a male athlete training alone; it might not be a big group, but at least, they are not alone.
“We have so many talented female athletes but the talent is going to waste because, in some cases, they are lacking support. There are also issues of marriage; some get married, others, when they get pregnant and give birth, it is difficult to come back to competition.” She urged female athletes to be strong-willed.
“It takes an athlete with a strong mind, the will to bounce back and a supportive husband. Men need to support female athletes, instead of taking advantage of them . . . and girls also need to learn to be disciplined. Discipline and consistency are key.
“I think they (National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe) are doing their best. But it’s up to the athletes to grab the chance and use it. Like now, we are in camp, it would have been great if we had two or three ladies training together,” added Chidzivo.
After experiencing what it takes to compete at the highest level, Chidzivo is now more relaxed and yet primed for the competition in Budapest.
“I am hoping and praying for the best,” she said.
Online Reporter