Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
ZIMBABWE’S Andie Kuipers found the going tough at the 2025 Africa Triathlon Cup Hurghada yesterday after placing 21 in Egypt.
It was her second event in the North African country, following her participation at the 2025 Africa Triathlon Sprint Championships El Galala last week.
Going into yesterday’s event, Kuipers had hoped to build on her performance from the last event and accumulate some points this time around.
But it proved to be a tough day on course for the Zimbabwean triathlete.
Last week she got a bronze medal in the elite women and gold in the Under-23 Women, however, she missed out on points.
And with a bigger field at yesterday’s event that had 25 entries, Kuipers finished way out of the top three, when placing 21, in 1 hour 10 minutes 11 seconds.
The race consisting of a 750m swim, 19.5km bike and 5km run, was won by Clara Carlquist from Denmark in a time of 1 hour 1 minute 34 seconds.
It was a tightly contested race among the top three with Genesis Carolina Ruiz Volcan of Venezuela finishing second in 1 hour 1 minute 36 seconds.
Isabel Sterr from Germany finished third in 1 hour 1 minute 37 seconds.
Yesterday’s event also featured athletes from Italy, Serbia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Netherlands, Jordan, Hungary, Denmark and hosts Egypt.
Kuipers, now based in Kuwait is chasing for points to keep her ranking up so that she gets to compete at world events that can earn her more points to improve her ranking.
The goal is to put herself in a good position to try and qualify for Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub after Kuipers’ previous event, Triathlon Zimbabwe vice president Pamela Fulton said the focus for now is to build her ranking ahead of the qualification window.
“Well, before the qualification, she’s got to just enter races that are likely to build that ranking.
“So, if you enter cup events, your overall ranking points are lower, she needs to be getting into World Cup events, but she’s got to have a good ranking to be able to get onto the start line for those World Cup events.
“The priority now is just to build her world ranking until she’s high enough to be eligible to get onto the start line for those World Cup events,” said Fulton.
Kuipers who has represented the country in a number of competitions including the African Games, remains Zimbabwe’s hopeful for the next Olympics.
