Wenslus Murape
Ellina Mhlanga in Paris, France
WITH Team Zimbabwe members posting some encouraging performances at the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, chef de mission Ringisai Mapondera says he is pleased with the results posted by the athletes.
Following Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba’s top eight finish in the men’s 200m event, Mapondera believes with the right support, more can be achieved.
Makarawu was placed sixth in the final and Charamba was eighth.
“I am impressed with the performance of the team. I am impressed particularly with how the sprinters in the 200m performed.
“I really applaud the athletes, the two athletes for their efforts, and their spirit in how they performed in these Olympics. Everyone is abuzz about them…They really excelled.
“It is an important achievement for athletes in Zimbabwe, even an important achievement for those aspiring to reach the same heights.
“In fact, Makarawu was just two athletes away from being a medal winner and I am sure come LA 2028, we will see a lot form these young men.”
However, he was quick to point out that there is need to look at how different stakeholders can contribute for continuous growth and success in sport.
“Everyone will be aware of their achievement, the question we have to ask ourselves as Zimbabweans is how are we getting to this stage? What more can we do to ensure that every Olympics we have this thing rehappening and reoccurring?
“Going forward Zimbabwe can build on this. We need to look at how are these young men doing it. What is it that they are doing that we are not doing back home? Where are they, how are they excelling?
“What more can we do as a sporting industry? What more can we do as corporates to support sport from an early stage and not just wait for the event, and not just wait for the glory. What more can we do, that is the question.
“Going forward we need to build on this. We need to continue pushing in supporting all athletes in the medal hopeful sports that are there in the cause that we have for Zimbabwe that have shown that they can excel.
“We can excel, we have excelled before, we can do it again,” said Mapondera.
Makarawu, also secured his place at next year’s World Athletics Championships when running 20.07 seconds in the opening heats on Monday.
Online Reporter