Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE-born Nomvula Banele Mjimba (20) is making waves in the United States of America where she has won a number of accolades in swimming.
Born in Harare where she did her primary school at Dominican Convent, Mjimba is a second-year student at Gannon University where she is studying sports medicine on a swimming scholarship.
She started swimming at the age of eight and did her secondary schooling at the Wykeham Collegiate — TWC in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where she was given the USA scholarship.
Her mother Zanele Nkomazana from Lupanda in Lupane is her manager.
Mjimba is in the Gannon women’s swimming and diving team, and was recently named Gannon University Student-Athletes of the Week for three consecutive weeks alongside Alex Deemer.
She specialises in sprint freestyle and butterfly and has represented Zimbabwe at various competitions worldwide and is preparing for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“I’m studying at Gannon University in Pennsylvania in USA and swimming NCAA Division 2.
I started swimming at the Dominican Convent and I enjoyed junior school swimming, which was the best of my swimming life,” she said.
Mjimba encouraged athletes, particularly girls, to soldier on in pursuit of their goals.
She said she was grateful for the support from family and other people in her circle.
“It’s been a tough journey financially, physically and mentally, but I keep going because quitting is not an option.
A lot of girls quit sport along the way, but I urge girls to persevere until they reach their dreams.
“I’m thankful to my family, Zimbabwe Swimming, Gannon University, TWC, Convent, Girls College and the clubs that have trained me like Otters, Highlands in Harare, Seals Pietermaritzburg and Seagulls in Durban,” she said.
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