malvernmugadzikwa
Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
A MONTH after earning her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Rutendo Nyahora is slowly working towards peak fitness in preparation for the global meet.
The marathon runner is one of the five athletes who qualified for the Games that will officially begin on July 26 and run until August 11.
“My preparations are going on very well; there is nothing much to report,” she said.
“We are doing strength training for my legs to be ready for Paris’ tough course.
“We have cancelled all my races so that I can focus more on my training and, hopefully, stay injury-free.”
The South Africa-based Nyahora will go to the Olympics for the second time after securing a universality slot.
Her maiden appearance was at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after making the cut through the qualifying time at the Vienna City Marathon.
The women’s marathon in Paris is scheduled for August 11, the last day of the Games, while the men’s race is on August 10. Zimbabwe will be represented by Isaac Mpofu in the men’s marathon.
Nyahora is training under the guidance of her coach, Lindsey Parry, and training partners who include Olympian Shadreck Hoff.
“It’s now five months since I started training with Shadreck Hoff. We are getting along very well, even though sometimes he can be a serious man,” she said.
“I am learning a lot from him.
“Before, I was not more into strength training; my body was weak. Being an Olympian himself, his wish is to see me doing well in Paris and he has been really helpful.” Nyahora said she covers 30km daily from Monday to Thursday as part of her training.
“Fridays, we do 20km to 25km, then gym in the afternoon,” she said.
“Wednesday, we do our mid-week long run, 30km, then afternoon, we do gym. Our only rest day is Saturday, as on Sundays we do another 35km long run.”
Nyahora has had to strike a balance between her preparations and family since she has a three-year-old son.
“I have been coping very well,” she said.
“I train, eat, sleep, watch TV and spend time with my boy. I don’t want him to feel like I am distancing myself from him too much, even though my schedule is too tight.”
Speaking soon after her qualification for the Paris Olympics last month, Nyahora said she was hoping for a better outcome as her times continued to improve.
“My expectation for Paris is to run better than I did at the Rio Games,” she said.
“Then, I was not mature enough and I didn’t have much experience in marathons.”
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe have been assisting the athlete with her build-up. The organisation’s president, Tendayi Tagara, is hoping Nyahora will join Mpofu in camp for a couple of weeks before departure for Paris. Mpofu is working with coach Benson Chauke. Tagara said they would want her to leave for Paris from Harare.
“She asked for a support budget while she is in South Africa,” said Tagara.
“We sent her the money she needed. She wanted to work with her coach on that side and some athletes there.
“I think she will come through for the last two weeks and join Isaac Mpofu so that they will leave together. We would want her to leave for Paris from Harare.”
The Olympics are coming within the qualifying period for the 2025 World Championships to be held in Tokyo, and Tagara is hopeful both Nyahora and Mpofu can push for the next edition of the global meet.
“Isaac must perform within the top 10. Anything better than that will be a bonus,” said Tagara.
“We expect Nyahora to push into the top 30; that’s a better position out of almost about 80 athletes.
“If she comes among the top 30, then that’s a good step towards Tokyo World Championships. The Olympics come in within the qualifying period for the Worlds.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter