Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR Tendai Zimuto the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship means he can focus more on his training and competing.
The marathon runner is one of the nine athletes that were this week presented with Olympic Solidarity Los Angeles 2028 Scholarships at a function held in Harare by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Through the support of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship funding offers assistance to National Olympic Committees for direct athlete support towards preparation and qualification for the Olympic Games.
Starting in September 2025 and continuing until August 2028, these athletes will benefit from a monthly stipend, which comes from the Olympic Solidarity Fund.
The other recipients are Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba, Vimbayi Maisvorewa and Ashley Miller (athletics), Benjamin Lock (tennis), Andie Kuipers (triathlon), Anje Van As and Paige Van Der Westhuizen (swimming).
“As an athlete I am happy to be recognised by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, to be one of the athletes on the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship.
“Now I am able to prepare for races because I have the funds, like now the stadium is closed, we are using UZ and we have to pay $5.
“And for us as athletes it’s a lot of money, we cannot afford.
“But now when you are getting this kind of support you can cover those costs to access the track, fuel for training among other things. I can concentrate more on training and competing.
“This is an advantage for us, with this support we can qualify for the World Championships, we can qualify for Olympics,” said Zimuto.
Zimuto made his debut at the World Athletics Championships this year after qualifying through the world rankings.
He is one of the identified marathon runners earmarked to achieve the LA 2028 Games qualification.
Promising swimmer Van As, has had an interesting experience moving from triathlon to just concentrating on swimming and it has proved to be what she needed as she embarks on this journey, Olympics qualification.
Her coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole is excited about the times ahead.
“Look, we are really grateful, super grateful to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
“I think this will be life-changing for Anje. She is a young athlete, she is still just finishing school. This is going to be a huge thing for her.
“She progresses into next year and then trying to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, a year before the Olympic Games, LA 2028.
“She has got an opportunity now for everything that needs to go with the training, all the extras, the physiotherapies, the gym, the doctors. She’s now able to implement all those things with this funding.
“It’s definitely going to be life-changing for her and for her career and her journey to LA,” said Tudor-Cole.
Van As, on her maiden appearance at the Africa Aquatics Junior Championships, won gold in the 200m butterfly and two bronze in the 100m and 50m butterfly in Egypt.
“About two years ago, she was swimming and (also into) triathlon. We had a meeting and we just discussed that she needed to really try to focus on one.
“She chose swimming and she’s literally not stopped. I mean, this year alone, she was the African champion.
“She went to Senior World Champs in Singapore, Junior World Champs in Romania. A very big year for her.
“If this is what she’s done in a short time, and now with the help of the scholarship, I think she’s unstoppable.
“She’s got the right mind. She works very, very hard. With the support from the Olympic Committee now, I think she can do it,” Tudor-Cole said. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, ZOC chief executive Marlene Gadzirayi said the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship programme is an investment in future excellence.
“The Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme is an investment in future excellence and it’s a dedicated arm of the International Olympic Committee that provides assistance to National Olympic Committees like ourselves as well.
“The scholarships specifically aim to support elite athletes who have potential to qualify for the next Olympic Games but face significant resource barriers.
“The funding covers crucial elements that allow the athletes to focus purely on training and performance. “This includes training and coaching fees, travel and competition costs, medical and scientific support as well as subsistence, providing a monthly allowance for basic needs, just allowing the athletes to dedicate themselves fully to the sport.
“The scholarship from the IOC affirms that these athletes are on the global radar and deserve the best possible preparation for LA 2028,” said Gadzirayi.
After fielding seven athletes at the Paris 2024 Games, Zimbabwe are hoping to improve the number for the Los Angeles sojourn.
