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Ellina Mhlanga in PARIS, France
COMPETING at the Olympics is a dream come true for many athletes and Zimbabwean swimmer Paige Van der Westhuizen, her big moment came yesterday when she made her maiden appearance at the ongoing Paris 2024 Games in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Van der Westhuizen was the first to hit the wall at the Paris La Defence Arena, in 58.19 seconds, in the first of the four heats lined up for the day.
It was an encouraging performance to win her heat in the women’s 100m freestyle at the gigantic arena, in front of a larger group of spectators compared to what she is used to.
But overall, she was ranked 25 out of 29 swimmers who competed in the event yesterday and could not progress to the next stage. Only the fastest 16 qualified for the semi-finals.
Although she also fell short of her personal best of 57.34 seconds, the Zimbabwean swimmer will be looking at building on this experience going forward. Van der Westhuizen described her participation as a learning curve.
“Obviously, being my first Olympics I was very nervous, and I think just coming onto the stage this big, where there are many spectators, and knowing the whole country back home is supporting you, does put a lot of pressure on you.
“In terms of my race, it wasn’t what I wanted. I am a little bit disappointed with it. But I think I am going to use this to build going forward into the next World Championships. I have to learn also to manage my nerves at such a big stage,” she said.
The 21-year-old led for most of the last 50m of the race to emerge top swimming in lane four. Tilly Collymore of Grenada came second with a time of 58.84 seconds in the heat.
Botswana’s Maxine Egner was third in 58.98 seconds and Aleka Kylela Persaud from Guyana was fourth in 1 minute 01.29 seconds.
Rana Saadeldin of Sudan laced fifth in 1 minute 04.72 seconds.
“It wasn’t far off my best . . . So, that’s not bad. But I think building towards (next Olympics) LA 2028, I will be in a much better position, hopefully looking at finals and medals for Zimbabwe.
“I mean, I swam a 58.1 there and my PB t is a 57.3. So, it’s a little disappointing because I would have loved to have got a new PB at my first Olympics. But I understand there is external factors and a lot more pressure than we are used to.
“So, I think it’s just a learning curve and hopefully in the next few races, I will get back down to my PB. I swam it in May actually, so it’s quite a recent one.
“I mean, (yesterday) I was just trying to block out everything and try to focus on what I needed to do and how to execute my race. I prayed with my coach beforehand, and I talked through in my head exactly what I wanted to do as I dived in, hit the turn, and hit the wall.
“So, when I was standing on the blocks, I was trying to block out everything and just remind myself I am swimming for the whole country back home, not just myself,” said Van der Westhuizen.
Van der Westhuizen is representing Zimbabwe in swimming at the Olympics along with Denilson Cyprianos, who is up for the men’s 200m backstroke today.
Online Reporter