adminThe 30-year-old finished an impressive seventh in the men’s Olympic marathon which was won by the Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich.
Compatriot Wirimai Juwawo kept pace with Nyasango for most of the race and came a respectable 15th.
The two Zimbabweans’ biggest cheerleader was swimmer, Kirsty Coventry, whose own efforts in the pool ended in disappointment last week.
Coventry used her Twitter account to describe the two men as “incredible” after they endured the baking sun to finish the 42,1km marathon on the streets of London.
“Cuthbert Nyasango you are incredible!” Kirsty tweeted. “7th place in the Olympics!”
Coventry, Zimbabwe’s flag bearer during the official opening of the Olympics on 28 July, also congratulated Juwawo.
Kiprotich joined twice world gold medallist Abel Kirui and London marathon champion Wilson Kipsang — both of Kenya — at the 30km mark.
Six kilometres later Kiprotich pounced and held on to win in two hours eight minutes one second, 26 seconds ahead of Kirui with Kipsang a further 1:10 behind.
Kipsang made an early break, splitting the field and passing through the halfway stage in 63 minutes 15 seconds. He was gradually reeled in and joined by Kiprotich and Kirui in a three-man race for the gold.
Nyasango crossed the line in two hours, 12 minutes and eight seconds, some two minutes ahead of Juwawo whose two hours, 14 minutes and nine seconds was good enough for 15th.
The race, past some of London’s most notable landmarks, started and finished in the Mall near Buckingham Palace. It comprised one short and three longer circuits through the heart of London.
Zimbabwe took a small team of seven athletes to the Olympics. — NewZimbabwe.com.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter