dyton mupawaenda
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimbabwe Triathlon coach Pam Fulton expressed gratitude towards her technical appointment to lead the southern camp at a recent meet in Mauritius last month.
Leading triathlete, Andy Kuipers coasted to a podium finish winning silver medal in the U23 Elite Women’s event of the 2023 Africa Triathlon Sprint Cup Blue Bay during the same trip. The US-based athlete was fifth overall in the Elite Female category while Duwan Botha, another Zimbabwean triathlete finished a commendable 10th place.
Fulton, an experienced administrator and technical expert, stayed behind for the camp.
“As part of World Triathlon’s development plan, they hold two camps yearly within Africa, one in the north and one in the south.
“I was very grateful to be appointed head coach this year for the southern camp which was held in Mauritius,” Fulton said.
“We had athletes attending from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius and Mozambique.
“Prior to the start of the camp, the athletes participated in an Africa Cup event, and we went into camp the following day.
“We were very fortunate that all training sessions were held at a very impressive High Performance Centre with 2x 50m swimming pools, a running track, a large gym and an area where we could hold safe and technical cycling sessions.”
She added that it was a camp to remember as it came with immense benefits to both athletes and coaches.
The camp ended with another race to allow the athletes practice any new techniques and in-formation they had learnt on camp. Being appointed head coach is a real honour and I am so grateful to have these opportunities to help Africa’s up and coming junior triathletes,” she said.
“I have been involved in the Development camps for a few years now and am now seeing previous camp athletes competing in the elite U23 category and trying to qualify for Paris 2024. Andie Kuipers, Zimbabwe’s top elite lady, was an athlete who benefited from these camps in her junior years.”
Online Reporter