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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
TEAM Zimbabwe chef de mission for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games Ringisai Mapondera says they are pleased with the effort put in by athletes that are going to represent the country in Paris.
Zimbabwe are sending seven athletes to the Games due to take place from July 26 to August 11. Marathon runners Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora are joined by sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba (200m) for athletics.
Stephen Cox is up for the men single sculls in rowing.
In swimming, Zimbabwe will be represented by Denilson Cyprianos and Paige van der Westhuizen in the men’s 200m backstroke and women’s 100m freestyle respectively.
“The whole starting point of Olympics is the Olympism spirit. They are there, they are Olympians, no one can take that away from them. Gold medals, or silver medals, bronze medals those are the pluses of being at the Games.
“But what they are now, they are Olympians and that is to us what is most important. Zimbabwe is being represented at that particular stage.
“We would not want to put pressure on these athletes. They have done their best to be where they are.
“They are amongst the best. So, yes we go there hoping for medals, but we are happy with the team we have, and we are happy with the efforts that they have put in to be at these Games,” said Mapondera.
The athletes will be travelling directly to Paris from their respective bases.
Only Mpofu is in Harare.
“In essence, all the athletes when they qualified the national federations were requested to send how they want to get assistance in terms of preparation and all athletes preferred to be where they are.
“So, what we have is a situation where the athletes are going to travel from their bases, where they are located direct to the Games and we meet up with them in Paris.
“Every athlete is training in the environment that they are comfortable with, that they chose.”
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