Felgate’s dream Grace Chirumanzu

of London’s Royal Parks, Hyde Park, will host 110 triathletes (who include 55 female athletes) for the 2012 Olympic Games in August.
The former St John’s boy; now Zimbabwe’s top triathlete, Chris Felgate, will be hoping to make his country proud when he faces the waters for the 1 500m swim, 43km bike ride and a 10km run, come August 7.
It will be the second time Felgate competes at the Olympic Games after finishing 42nd out of 55 in Beijing, China, four years ago.
Asked about his aim this time around, he said it will be for “the best race” that will “hopefully put me in the top 40”.
Growing up in Harare several years ago, Felgate was a competitive swimmer enjoying practising at Highlands swimming pool during his free time.
At his elite primary school, he was known for his passion for marathon.
Advice to him from friends at the age of 14 was all he needed to realise he could combine his swimming talent, racing gift and his love for bike ride for a sport in triathlon.
“There was a race that weekend at Mount Pleasant swimming pool — the Kingfisher Mini Series — and I finished fifth; I was very happy and hooked!” he recalled.
“I did this on my florescent coloured mountain bike and knew that if I had a ‘faster’ bike I would do much better. Only after about the fifth race I ever did.
“My parents realised that I enjoyed the sport and made the financial commitment of buying me a road racer. From then I started proper training and started competing more regularly.
“St John’s College brought triathlon in as an official sport and I could train and compete in triathlon, which was a school sport. This all happened in 1995 and I have never looked back!”
His road to London saw him sweating for two years in a series of races that won him points for a ticket to the international gala.
He qualified last month following a series of races in which he was glad to beat his closest opponent, Morocco’s Mehdi Essadiq.
It was a road filled with potholes but Felgate was proud to have made it for the global sports extravaganza.
“After the final race on May 27, my closest rival for the spot Mehdi Essadiq did not do well enough to pass my ranking and I knew I had done it!
“There were a lot of emotions that went through and still going through my mind. It will be a tough lead-up to the Games, training and working at the same time in the Johannesburg winter,” said Felgate.
The South Africa-based sportsman acknowledges the support from his parents, fiancé, triathlon Zimbabwe team and his company BSG Africa (one of his sponsors) to have been the backbone of his career.
It is because of them he feels “without their understanding, I would not be able to have achieved what I have done.”
“Growing up, the support I received from my parents shaped my future. My dad would take me to all races, even down to Bulawayo and give up his weekends or Sunday mornings, especially at a time when he was working really hard to support our whole family.
“My mum would then ensure my two other brothers were looked after or she would be running around with my younger brother at swimming galas.
“Once I went to university and started to ‘grow up’ there have been more and more people that have helped me get to where I am today.
“In the last four years, my fiancée, Nikki, has been there every step of the way and has been through all the downs and ups, of which there have been far more downs!
“My current employer, BSG (Africa) has been incredibly supportive since I joined them in 2009,” he reckons.
Felgate, who will be concluding a career as an Elite Triathlete this year, believes Zimbabwe will not see their last representative at the Olympic Games in him.
He is full of admiration on how the sport is run in the country.
“Laurelle Brown certainly has a good future ahead of her. As far as grooming younger triathletes is concerned, I think that the school system plays a vital role in keeping the sport alive.
“I have seen this in Australia and South Africa, where triathlon is not a school sport and is much difficult to get the young triathletes involved.
“Wayne Davidson is a passionate coach and is now a level 2 ITU coach so is well equipped to make sure a lot of juniors are coached properly going into the future.
“I think special mention must be made of Rick Fulton and other long-standing Zimbabwe Triathlon Association members.
Rick was at my first triathlon in 1994 and is still leading the sport as the president. Without his drive, the sport would not be where it is today.”