Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL coach Pamela Fulton will take three teenagers to Egypt next month, and two absentees will be felt long before the starting horn goes in Al Galala.
Zimbabwe will field Callum Smith, Olivia Beamish and Zander Botha at the 2026 Africa Triathlon Junior Championships, scheduled for February 12 to 14 on the Red Sea coast. A squad of five had been announced earlier this month, but school timetables have cut it back to three.
Rachel O’Donoghue and Matthew Hildebrand were withdrawn after consultations with parents and schools. Both are entering their O Level year, and the timing of the continental championships collided directly with academic commitments.
“I am very proud of the five athletes who were selected for the Africa Championships at Al Galala on February 13,” Fulton said.
“They all posted their fastest times this season over the Mount Pleasant course, so the selection was earned. But it’s now confirmed that only Callum, Zander and Olivia will travel. For Rachel and Matthew, the school pressure is real and it couldn’t be ignored.”
The decision trims depth from the team but sharpens its focus. All three athletes will compete in the junior category for ages 16 to 19, racing over a format that demands speed, discipline and clean transitions. Selection races held locally over the past months were dominated by the same names, making the final trio a familiar sight at the front of the field.
Beyond medals, Al Galala carries heavier consequences. The event doubles as Africa’s final qualification race for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, set for October and November. Only athletes aged 16 and 17 are eligible, placing Beamish and Botha directly in the qualification window.
The first eligibility race was staged in November last year, where Zimbabwe was represented by O’Donoghue and Botha. This time, Beamish joins Botha in a field expected to be deeper and more urgent.
“This race is the final YOG qualifier for Africa for 16 and 17 year olds,” Fulton said. “It should be exceptionally well supported. Twenty African countries have already shown interest in competing in triathlon at YOG 2026. Zimbabwe already has one male and one female eligible. With Olivia racing in Al Galala, we’re pushing to have two eligible females.”
Smith’s role is different. The 18 year old will focus solely on junior championship honours, drawing on experience that sets him apart from his teammates. He has raced at the Africa Championships in Egypt for the past two seasons and understands the terrain, the climate and the intensity of continental competition.
“Callum has the most experience against these athletes,” Fulton said. “He knows what it takes at this level and I expect him to be very competitive again.”
For Beamish and Botha, the step up is sharper. Both turn 16 this year and are in their first season racing over the sprint distance, placing them at the bottom of the age bracket and against older, physically stronger rivals.
“They are young for this category, but they are not new to triathlon,” Fulton said. “They’ve built experience over years and I believe both have a real chance of performing well.”
