Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S leading triathlete Andie Kuipers is looking at shifting her training base to Australia as she lays the groundwork to try and secure a spot at the next edition of the Olympic Games.
Kuipers is a prospect for triathlon ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and she recently received the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship to assist with her training and preparation to pursue her dream.
In a pre-recorded video message played at the presentation of the scholarships, Kuipers said it will go a long way in aiding her efforts to try and qualify for the Games.
“I am so proud and so grateful to have been selected as a recipient for the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship as I prepare for the LA Olympic Games in 2028.
“This scholarship is allowing me to move across the world to Australia, where I will be joining my coach and training squad, giving me access to world-class facilities as well as a daily training environment that I believe is going to set me up to be the most successful athlete I can be along this journey to LA.
“Triathlon requires you to race all around the world, collecting ranking points to be able to qualify for the Games.
“This scholarship really helps me offset these costs. The qualification period starts in May. This is an exciting two-year journey where I get to chase my dreams,” Kuipers said.
Some of her highlights this year include a gold medal in the Under-23 category at the Africa Triathlon Championships in April, in South Africa.
After spending most of her time in Kuwait this year, balancing work, training and competition, she is set to move to Australia next month.
In July she participated at the Africa Triathlon Premium Cup, where she was up against a strong field of elite women, and she placed 31st out of 37 participants for the race.
The 2019 African Games bronze medallist was back in competition at the end of September when she claimed another gold in the Under-23 category and a bronze in the elite women at the Africa Triathlon Sprint Championships in Egypt.
Kuipers is working towards improving her ranking to be able to compete in world events that can earn her more points and put her in a better position to try and qualify for the Olympics.
Triathlon Zimbabwe president Ross O’Donoghue said they are grateful for the support to one of their athletes and is hopeful about Kuipers’ qualification chances.
“They have supported her for many years and she has made great improvements and on the road to LA2028 we feel that this is going to be a big game-changer for her to have this funding.
“It’s enabling her to move to Australia to train with her coach, to get the correct nutrition, the physiotherapy, the equipment that she needs.
“I think it also inspires the parents of the junior athletes so that they can see that the financial burden doesn’t have to be borne by them completely.
“Individual sports, but particularly triathlon is a very expensive sport and the fact that we have got support from organisations like ZOC and the Solidarity Fund just shows our younger athletes and their parents that the road to Olympics is possible in Zimbabwe,” said O’Donoghue.
He believes it will also inspire the upcoming youth and junior athletes to see the possibilities in sport and aim higher.
