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ZIMBABWE’S hopes for a medal at the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympic Games are getting slim with each passing day as most of the athletes have already bowed out of their competitions.
The best result the team has had so far is the finals by swimming icon Kirsty Coventry in the 200m finals and rower Micheen Thornycroft, who reached the B final in the women’s singles sculls.
Coventry reached the finals of the 200m backstroke on Friday morning but found the going tough on Saturday when she came sixth with a time of 2:08.80.
However, for the seven-time Olympic medallist it was an inspiring effort as she made her fifth Olympic Games appearance.
Thornycroft, competing for the second time at the Olympics, came fifth in the B final in 7:30.57 and ranked 11 out of 32 athletes.
In the men’s section, Andrew Peebles finished first in the men’s single sculls E final after failing to make direct qualification into the main finals and he finished 25th overall.
In athletics, Gabriel Mvumvure came seventh in heat five of the men’s 100m event in 10,28 seconds on Saturday and failed to go to the semi-finals.
In an interview with Star FM’s Spencer Banda, Mvumvure expressed disappointment over his performance as he had hoped for a better outing.
“These are some of the heartbreaks that comes with the Olympics. The unfortunate thing is I have to wait four years again for me to be able to get revenge or anything.
“But it was one of those races where I was confident although I didn’t have many as races as I wanted to be able to be sharp at this meet. But I mean when you are at the Olympics you are at the Olympics, you can’t cry foul and complain about this and that.
“So I was ready, I felt really good with what I was about to do. I wish it was a little faster but it’s up and gone. When you are around so many people that are good starters at times you don’t happen to be so exceptional whenever you are around them.
“But it was just one of those races. I wish I could have had a chance or an opportunity to re-do it again in the semi-finals but it’s just not going to happen,” said Mvumvure.
Mvumvure, however, believes with better preparations he could have done better.
“I was in really good shape. And the problem was just because of the funds coming in late. For two months I couldn’t go to any races that really hurts the preparation.
“I guess the organisational part should be a little bit better as far as support and at times you can’t blame really the Olympic Committee because the money they help us with it’s not them, it’s the IOC’s (International Olympic Committee) money,” said Mvumvure.
While Mvumvure is out, another sprinter, Tatenda Tsumba, will fight for honours in the 200m tomorrow.
In the women’s marathon yesterday, Rutendo Nyahora settled for number 92 in 2hrs 47mins 32sec.
Kenya’s Jemima Jelagat Sumgong came first in 2hrs 24mins 4sec, followed by Bahraim’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa with a time of 2hrs 24mins 13sec.
Online Reporter