Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL coach Pamela Fulton is confident the young athletes competing at the 2026 Africa Triathlon Junior Championships will leave a mark at the event to be hosted by Egypt next month.
Zimbabwe will be represented by Callum Smith, Olivia Beamish and Zander Botha.
Triathlon Zimbabwe had named a five-member team consisting of Smith, Botha, Beamish, Rachel O’Donoghue and Matthew Hildebrand for the championships slated for February 12 to 14.
However, O’Donoghue and Hildebrand will not be travelling to Egypt due to school commitments.
This leaves Zimbabwe with three representatives.
“I am very proud of the five athletes who have been selected to compete at the Africa Championships Al Galala event on 13 February.
“They all posted their fastest time this season at the Mount Pleasant course, so qualification is well deserved.
“However, it has been confirmed that only Callum, Zander and Olivia will be travelling.
“These athletes (O’Donoghue and Hildebrand) are going into their O’ Level year, so there is a lot of pressure on them academically.
“All athletes will be competing in the junior triathlon event where athletes will be between the ages of 16-19 years.”
The chosen athletes have mostly dominated the selection races held so far to make the team.
The continental show-piece also serves as the final eligibility race for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for between October and November.
And for this one, Zimbabwe will be represented by Botha and Beamish, who are within the targeted age group.
The first eligibility race was held last year in November. At that competition, Zimbabwe were represented by O’Donoghue and Botha.
“This race doubles as the final YOG eligibility race for Africa, whereby those 16- and 17-year-olds are eligible for this.
“This event should therefore be exceptionally well supported by athletes from throughout Africa, as 20 countries within Africa expressed interest in competing in triathlon at YOG26.
“Zimbabwe already have one male and one female eligible to qualify for YOG.
With Olivia competing in Al Galala, Zimbabwe will hopefully have two eligible females,” Fulton said.
Smith, who is the most experienced at this level having participated at the continental show-piece before, will just focus on the Junior Championships honours.
Beamish and Botha are in their first season competing over the sprint distance but the Triathlon Zimbabwe national coach is confident they will rise to the challenge.
“Both Olivia and Zander turn 16 this year, so they are at the bottom of this category age-wise and are in their first season racing over the sprint distance.
“But they have a lot of triathlon experience, so I believe they both have a very good chance of performing exceptionally well.
“Callum has competed at the Africa Championships in Egypt for the last two seasons, so he has the most experience against these young men, and I am sure he too will be very competitive,” said Fulton.
The three athletes will likely take advantage of some of the local events, in particular the two events scheduled for January 25 and February 8, to fine-tune their preparations.
