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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
LOCAL swimmers chasing qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are set to go into their final competitions over the next month as the deadline for the qualification window draws closer.
Zimbabwe currently have five athletes from rowing and athletics who have made the grade for the Paris Games, which are scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in France.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee are hopeful of a few more to come to the party with swimming, golf, and triathlon as well as athletics still in the run.
The five who have already qualified include rower Stephen Cox, Tapiwa Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba, Rutendo Nyahora, and Isaac Mpofu (athletics).
In their latest report presented during the Team Zimbabwe management meeting yesterday, Louise Benade, representing swimming, said there are a few competitions their swimmers are expecting to compete in.
“The swimmers still intend to participate in upcoming World Aquatic recognised events, mainly in Europe during May and June.
“Both our female swimmers Donata Katai and Paige van der Westhuizen have applied for SRC clearance to attend the World Aquatics accredited Spanish Open from the 18th to 22nd of June.
“The other accredited gala our swimmers wish to attend in Rome, Italy will run from June 20th to 23,” said Benade.
Cyprianos Denilson and Liam Davis are also in the running for qualification in the men’s category.
Zimbabwe are hoping to get universality slots and competing in the upcoming events is key for the swimmers to earn points that will determine who gets the slots.
Lindsy Tudor-Cole said that they are waiting to see who gets the most points as the deadline draws closer.
“Those are the four swimmers that are on the long list. Now we are waiting to see who gets the most Aqua Points.
“They have got until June 23 which is the final cut-off date, and some of them are racing in Spain and Italy. We will only know then,” said Tudor-Cole.
According to World Aquatics, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) without any qualified athlete or relay team may enter a maximum of two athletes — a man and a woman in one event each.
NOCs must submit their application for universality places to the World Aquatics for approval by June 24 and the international body will confirm places to NOCs by July 3.
For rowing, Rowing Association of Zimbabwe president Andrew Lorimer expressed satisfaction with Cox’s preparations.
Cox qualified for the Games last year and kicked off the year with a three-month training camp in Australia.
“Steve has trained and raced hard during the first five months of 2024. He has managed to complete all training aspects and has remained injury-free.
“The physiotherapists have been undertaken to improve mobility and prevent injury.
“Steve is currently in very good physical condition and ready for upcoming races in May and June 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympics near the end of July 2024.
“For the first three months of 2024, Steve moved to Australia to get away from winter in the Northern Hemi-sphere and train with the Sydney Rowing Club, one of the leading high-performance clubs in Australia.
“Many thanks to ZOC, and the Sydney Rowing Club, who helped facilitate this training.
“The main focus of the training during this period was on race execution, putting everything Steve has learned over the years into action to produce some good race results.
“In addition, there was focus on making Steve’s stroke length longer, his leg drive more effective and the peak force more in-line with the perpendicular,” said Lorimer.
Triathlete Andie Kuipers is racing her last event tomorrow as the qualification period for triathlon closes on May 27.
She needs to finish the race within eight percent of the winner to get world ranking points that may give her a chance to fight for qualification.
In athletics, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe are still aiming for a few more athletes to make the cut.
Their last meet towards qualification is the Africa Senior Championships to run from June 21 to 26 in Cameroon.
Team Zimbabwe Chef de Mission Ringisai Mapondera said they continue to avail the needed support for athletes still in the run for qualification and those that have qualified.
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