admin2012 London Olympic Games with an “A” standard in May.
He posted a time of 2 hours 14 minutes 38 seconds, eclipsing the qualification time of 2 hours 15 minutes for the event.
For Juwawo qualification for the Olympic Games had appeared far fetched when his career almost went up in smoke following a career-threatening injury in 2008 .
“The year 2008 is the one l would not want to remember because it instilled a lot of pain in my life and career.
“I spent almost the whole year watching from the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury. It was so painful because running had become my source of income and I had resigned from work to take up athletics on a full-time basis.
“I even thought of quitting the sport but my wife and friends encouraged me to hang on for a moment and thank God I went to South Africa for treatment before resuming training in September of the same year,” said Juwawo.
Juwawo started taking athletics seriously when he was in Form Three at Vhengere High School in Rusape and since then he never looked back as he is determined to become one of the best athletes to emerge from this country.
His major breakthrough came in 2006 when he turned professional and upon becoming a professional, Juwawo found himself taking part in couple of races overseas where he proved his mettle as a top athlete.
During the year 2006, the 32-year-old road runner made his debut in the Nedbank half-marathon in South Africa but found the going tough as he finished sixth before won the race in 2008 after several times of trying, posting a time of 1 hour 4 minutes 25 seconds – a feat which gave the Rusape-born athlete hope of a bright future.
“During my debut appearance in the Nedbank half-marathon I finished sixth but recovered later on to win the race in 2008 and twice came second behind Henrique Ramala of South Africa.
“I also went to Holland the same year for three months and won two gold medals en-route to posting my personal best of 48 minutes 10 seconds in the 10km race when I participated in the Dangshang race.
“I also took part in the Eindhoven half-marathon in the Netherlands and won a gold medal in a time of 1 hour 4 minutes 35 seconds, before scooping another gold in the Robben Bank 10km race where l finished first in time of 29 minutes 45 seconds,” narrated Juwawo.
The year 2007 saw Juwawo going back to Holland for another fruitful three-month stint in which he won a silver medal in the Edmond 21km race and finished in respective places in the other events that he participated in.
During the same year, the Zvishavane-based athlete represented Zimbabwe at the All-Africa Games in Algeria and came seventh in the 21km race, posting a time of 1 hour 6 minutes 11 seconds.
“It was a good feeling raising my country’s flag high at a continental event and I went there on a learning process which helped me to improve as an athlete,” said Juwawo.
Juwawo has represented himself well, taking part in different competitions that include the Two Oceans marathon in South Africa, New Delhi half-marathon in India, King Saidi half-marathon in Abu Dhabi and many more.
The year 2010 saw Juwawo seeking yet another treatment after going down with a groin injury that sidelined him for eight months.
“It was a difficult moment for me because of limited financial resources and life became hard during that time. “I spent about eight months out due to injury and came back in September and went on to take part in the Danzhou International marathon in China and finished third in a time of 2 hours 12 minutes 38 seconds, setting my personal best in the 42km race,” Juwawo said. After qualifying for the 2012 Olympics, Juwawo said he is not going to London to win but he’s taking the event as another learning process for him but he has set himself a top 10 finish.
“It’s not going to be an easy event for me. I am going there on a learning process but I have set myself a top 10 finish.
“It has always been my dream to qualify and participate in the Olympics because I had missed qualifying times in the previous Olympic Games; I want to utilise this opportunity and expose my talent to the whole world.
“I have started my preparations for the Olympics but I am currently doing light training since l am still recovering from that race in Czech Republic where l qualified for the Olympics.
“I will be starting intensive training in June and I will be training with Cutbert Nyasango whom I want to give a lot of credit for playing an important role in shaping my career.
“I am sure this Olympics will give us enough exposure and make us famous because every time we go and participate outside the country people ask about Tendai Chimusasa and we want to follow his footsteps,” said Juwawo.
From the humble beginnings of Rusape, Juwawo is now a proud owner of a house in Zvishavane and is adamant that his life is going to be even much better for as long as he has energy to stay on the road.
“I am seeing my life improving through athletics. l have bought a house here in Zvishavane.
“Athletics has now become my profession and l want to be at the top there one day,” added Juwawo.
Juwawo was born in 1980 in Rusape and went to St Joseph Primary School before proceeding to do his secondary education at Gwindingwi where he did his Form One and Two.
He then moved to Vhengere High School in Rusape for his “O” Levels. Juwawo is married to Qondi Juwawo and are blessed with two children — Clifford and Watford.
Online Reporter