adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FOUR young swimmers are this week expected to leave for Egypt to represent the country at the Africa Junior Swimming Championships running from October 17 to 20.
The championships will be held in Cairo with countries from across the continent taking part and Zimbabwe will be represented by Robyn Lee, Nomvula Mjimba, Liam Davis and Liam O’Hara.
The team is expected to leave for Egypt on Wednesday and will be coached by Sheelah Crause with Jennie Lee the team manager.
Davis will compete in 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke and 100m butterfly and O’Hara will take part in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m and 100m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley in the boys section.
In the girls section, Australia-based Lee will take part in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley while Mjimba will fight for honours in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke and 50m and 100m butterfly.
The limelight will be on Lee and Davis, who competed in the 2013 edition of the championships in Zambia and both got some medals.
Lee was also at the Youth Olympic Games last year in China.
Mjimba and O’Hara will be making their debut appearance but have competed in other events that have the same level of competition and hopes are high they will also raise the country’s flag high in Egypt.
Zimbabwe Swimming secretary Tracey Doorman said they are hopeful the team will do well.
“We’re sort of looking forward to the championships and they got a lot of potential especially with two of them having been there before, they already have the experience at that level.
“Nomvula and O’Hara are going to compete in the 13 to 14 years age-group…the youngest age-group, Lee and Davis in the 15 to 16 years age-group.
“I do think they’re ready, all of them have been training throughout the winter, so I do believe they’re ready,” said Doorman.
In 2013 Zimbabwe had five swimmers competing in Zambia and they got four gold medals and two bronze.
Doorman said they are hoping for some medals again this year but noted that it will depend on the countries that will be participating at this year’s event.
Online Reporter