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From Gabriel Mvumvure in LOUISIANA, United States
MOSCOW was yet another experience for me. I am always an open-minded person, so when I get to new territories I am willing to accept, doubt and understand our differences in tradition and culture. If I were to critic my experience in Russia at this year’s 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships, I would say I enjoyed Moscow although it had its flaws.
I find the IAAF did a great job in finding tour guides that were kind and helpful at all times. The championship was run in a timely manner and the atmosphere was always intriguing. I got an opportunity to see the Zimbabwe Ambassador to Russia, Mr Chidyausiku and most of the diplomats on Heroes Day.
I was humbled and honoured by the invitation to the embassy to celebrate Heroes Day away from home.
I also went sight-seeing and discovered that Moscow is a beautiful city, I visited its parks and monuments. I could go all day about the fun I had but if I could critic something it would be how far our hotel was from the track.
Most hotels that other countries were staying in were nicer and took 10-15 minutes to get to the stadium but the one we and other countries were housed was about 40 minutes away or more and not as nice. If you were to ask me, I would say that is unfair and doesn’t create a level playing field for all athletes taking part. I just hope the organisers do a better job next time.
Nevertheless, I feel like I had enough to put myself well up in the championships. My preparations included a lot of time off from competition. I spent three weeks in Lignano (Italy), training for the World Championships. It was a great experience for me because the town is very laid back and everyone there is pretty fun.
I made a lot of friends that were very helpful and I hope to return the favour one day. I trained hard and smart because I didn’t want to burn myself out before a major championship. I was doing affirmations and a lot of visualisation.
My prayer and goal was to win a medal in Moscow. I always focus on my mind, body and soul being at one, so I was working on myself on every level and still continuing to do that, bearing in mind that there are more championships to come.
When looking back at my performance, I have no regrets at all because I am a strong believer in God and I know his timing is perfect. It was definitely not my time to shine but I know my time will come. I felt great in the preliminary rounds of the men’s 100-metre event, my goal was to make it to the next round and I did.
In the semi-finals, I knew I had to run a personal best to make it to the final. My semi-final heat had Justin Gatlin and Nesta Carter, who got the silver and bronze medals respectively.
Mentally, I was ready for the challenge and was not intimidated by anyone but I guess God had different plans. Looking back at it, I was grateful I had the opportunity to represent my country where I rubbed shoulders with the best athletes in the world.
I know things didn’t work out the way I wanted but at the end of the day I know I did my best and that is all that matters. I always hold my head high because in order to be successful, one has to know how to handle failure; Rome was surely not built in a day.
As for the future, I am always optimistic and have high expectations. If I were to tell you some of my goals you would think I am crazy so I am going to skip some, if not most of them. I am a guy that aims high, so if I miss, I won’t be far off.
I really want to get that gold medal at a high level competition such as World Championships and Olympics. I am also a selfless person so I really want to find ways of promoting sports and arts in Zimbabwe and throughout other parts of Africa that have less athletes representing them at the world stage.
My biggest dream is not about me being successful but making other people’s dreams come true. God willing, I would like to be a great humanitarian during and after I retire from athletics.
However, I have many championships to look forward to and work hard for.
Next year, I want to concentrate on the indoor season because World Indoor Championships are around the corner and I have to qualify for that event. World Championships will be in 2015 and then Olympics in 2016, so I still have more time for the outdoor season. I also want to compete better on the professional circuit and be consistent because I think I struggled this year, as far as repeating my sub-10 performances.
That leaves me with a lot to look forward to and fit in the missing pieces in the puzzle of my athletics career.
I believe I am a diligent athlete so I am willing to put in the work that will make me an even greater athlete if not the best in the World and it’s just a matter of time.
I hope to get enough sponsorship to be able to work hard towards that goal because I believe I have the potential.
I always see myself as a beginner so I don’t get cocky in my ways and lose the zeal to learn. Athletics is a sport that has a lot of history and continues to evolve.
The year 2013, has been my breakthrough year on the professional circuit so I can only get better.
I will tell you that it was not easy because it is a rough transition from the collegiate lifestyle to the professional level.
When you graduate and without sponsorship and working towards competing on the professional level, life can be very hard.
Prior to the race I ran my first ever sub-10 (9.98), I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I was about to quit athletics and focus on going back to school to do a Masters degree because life was/is not easy when you fund yourself at professional level.
Now that I see my hard work is starting to pay off, I believe I have seen light at the end of the tunnel.
I have gained a lot of experience and still continue to learn. I feel like I am not even at the beginning of my career and God willing, I believe I will be at the top of my game by the time the Olympics in Rio (2016) come across.
I just hope to get opportunities to get access to some high performance centres so that I get a chance to know my body more as an athlete and that would help me become a better athlete.
I believe if can be one of the best in the world.
Gabriel Mvumvure is a United States-based Zimbabwean sprinter, who represented the country at this year’s 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, where he reached the semi-finals of the men’s 100-metre event.
Online Reporter