The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
SPRINTER Ngoni Makusha has broken records and celebrated milestones but the 24-year-old admits he gets goose bumps whenever he hears the word ‘Olympics’.
It is something that has given him sleepless nights, albeit in a positive way because it is a dream — a goal that pushes him at every training session.
“I feel goose bumps just by hearing the word,” Makusha said.
“Growing up, it’s been my dream to be an Olympian, it would mean the world to me to be there. I usually dream about it most nights and I always think about it whenever I’m training. lt makes me push more,” he said. The Tokyo 2020 Summer Games start in just under a year (July 24 to August 9) and Makusha is one of Zimbabwe’s medal prospects. Last week, Makusha won two gold medals at the Confederation of African Athletics Southern Region Senior Championships in Mauritius.
But is much as many in the athletics family were impressed by his triumph, Makusha was a little disappointed.
“I couldn’t manage to hit the times I wanted for world championship qualification, but overall I’m happy with the performance and I know I’ve got so much in the tank.”
In Mauritius, Makusha ran the 100m race in 10:33s, while he achieved 20:83s in the 200m race. The standard qualification times for the Doha World Championships, slated for September 28 to October 6, are 10:10s in 100m and 20:40s in 200m.
Makusha’s personal best times are 10:17s in 100m and 20:49s for the 200m dash.
“I achieved 10:17 seconds at the Mauritius international meet last year and 20.49 seconds this year in the Gauteng North Championships in Pretoria.
“I have a European tour coming up from 17 July, then All-Africa Games (African Games) from August 26 to 30.
“I’ve got four meets and they are all in Belgium. I might consider running more whilst I’m there,” said Makusha.
Earlier in April, Makusha broke into IAAF top 10 rankings at position 10 (for the 200m) for the first time in his career.
He is now ranked 70th in the 200m.
ln May, he also participated at the World Relay Championships in Japan.
Apart from faster running times, Makusha has other needs to be in Tokyo.
“I need financial support for my diet, supplements, physiotherapists and the gym. Then there are travelling expenses when l go for the competitions.
“It’s always a challenge for me. I need all that to perform at 100 percent,” said Makusha.
