Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
UNITED States of America (USA)-based Zimbabwean swimmer Denilson Cyprianos and United Kingdom (UK) University of Stirling swimmer Paige Van Der Westhuizen are part of the country’s four member team that will compete at the Doha, Qatar World Aquatic Championships.
The championships are scheduled to take place from Sunday to February 18.
Zimbabwe Swimming revealed that Cyprianos and Westhuzien will represent the country in Qatar together with Liam Davis and Donata Katai.
It said Cyprianos, who earned a swimming scholarship in USA’s Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City Tennessee in 2021, is going to carry the country’s hopes for glory in the 100m and 200m backstroke events.
Davis will compete in the 200m breastroke.
In the female category, Westhuzien will be involved in the 50m and 100m freestyle competitions with Katai taking part in 50m and 100m backstroke.
Among those competing at the meet in Doha will be Olympian Duncan Scott, who won gold and bronze in relay events and an individual silver at last year’s championships that were held in Japan.
Westhuizen together with Benjamin Rorke and Liam’ O Hara represented the country at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest, Hungary.
Westhuizen posted a personal best in 100m freestyle when she completed the race in 59,20 seconds. Her entry time was 1,00,12.
She also improved her times in the 50m freestyle and 200m compared to the entry times.
Four years ago, Cyprianos set a national backstroke record at 59, 01 beating his own record of 59,72 which he had achieved at the South Africa Junior Nationals in March 2019.
He was then swimming in the 17 and over age group.
A few days ago, Cyprianos, a former Christian Brothers College (CBC) pupil, won the 400-yard individual medley and the 200 butterfly events, leading South Dakota State University men’s swimming and diving team on the final day of the Coyote Invite.
Cyprianos won the 400-yard medley in 4, 8,92 before he claimed the 200 butterfly in 1,54,78.
@FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter