Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
RISING sprinter Ropafadzo Mzondo is ecstatic after he earned a late call-up to Team Zimbabwe for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee announced the addition last week, almost three months after the initial team was named.
It follows the allocation of an extra quota slot by the YOG Organising Committee in consultation with World Athletics.
Mzondo will compete in 200m at the Games scheduled for October 31 to November 13 in Senegal.
It is going to be the first Olympic sporting event to be held on the African soil.
“When I was told that I made the national team for the Youth Olympic Games, to be honest I was lost for words.
“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even know how to feel in that moment because I had so much joy, shock and surprised.
“So, I don’t even know what was going on in my head in that moment because a lot of emotions were just coming into my head.
“But in general, I was so happy. This might have been the most shocking and most amazing news that I could have gotten at that time.”
Mzondo’s addition means Zimbabwe are now set to field 12 athletes at the Games across seven sport codes – athletics, cycling, equestrian, judo, rowing, swimming and triathlon.
“And this the best step towards my development as an athlete especially coming from the World Under-20 Championships.
“I will utilise the knowledge and experience I gained there in my races at the Youth Olympic Games.”
Mzondo narrowly missed qualification for the 200m event going into the World Under-20 Championships held in August in Oregon, Eugene, United States.
The plan was to qualify for both 400m and 200m. Getting the chance to now run 200m at the YOG, Mzondo said it can only be God’s plan.“The opportunity to run it at the Youth Olympic Games just shows that the Lord planned for me to run the 200m this year at a world stage.
“And there is nothing stopping me from bringing back a medal,” said Mzondo.
He added:
“So, this year, my dream was to run, to hold two national records, one in the 400m and one in the 200m. And since the beginning of the year, I have been working towards those dreams. I didn’t think it was possible, but now that I have been given the chance, it might be possible”
The 17-year-old hogged the limelight after setting a new national Under-18 record in 400m on his way to the semi-final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
He posted a time of 46.51 seconds in the heats, breaking the previous national record of 47.02 seconds, he had set earlier in the year when securing his qualification for the junior meet. Mzondo went on to help the 4x400m relay team to reach the final after finishing third in the heats in a new national Under-20 record of 3 minutes 08.56 seconds.
