Tinaye Agere
Ellina Mhlanga in Paris, France
MAKANAKAISHE Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu will be holding their heads high when they step onto the track at the Stade de France for the men’s 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games tonight.
The two sprinters have hoisted the country’s flag high at the ongoing Games, and for the first time, Zimbabwe has two sprinters in the final at the Olympics.
The race is at 8.30pm tonight
The last time Zimbabwe had a sprinter in the Olympics final was in 2008 when Brian Dzingai participated at the Beijing Games.
Charamba said his motive remains the same – to enjoy himself when he runs his race.
“I don’t really have a lot of expectations in the final. Like I said, I will just keep my motive the same, enjoy myself and just let God take care of the rest.”
The final will feature four African sprinters, that is Charamba, Makarawu, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia.
Charamba said this is a positive development for the continent.
“It means as Africa we are on the rise,” he said.
Makarawu is also not putting himself under pressure.
“No expectations, I am just going to run the final as it is. Whatever happens, it is what it is,” he said.
The final includes USA’s Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, Kenneth Bednarek and Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter