The Sunday Mail
Ellina Mhlanga
SWIMMING coach Masi Takaedza says there is still more work to be done as local swimmers seek qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Zimbabwe recently had four swimmers — UK-based Liam Davis and Paige Van Der Westhuizen, Donata Katai and Denilson Cyprianos — competing at the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar.
Katai and Cyprianos are based in the United States.
The championships were also a qualifying event for the Olympic Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11.
However, the four swimmers could not go beyond the heats, with only Katai posting a personal best time (PB) of 29,52 seconds in the 50m backstroke.
Her previous time was 29,88 seconds.
“I thought we swam well. We had some good performances. I mean, we had one PB and the (other) three were like close to their PBs. So, it was good,” said Takaedza.
“I think we are where we wanted to be at this time of the year. Also, when you consider time zones for the guys who came from America, the difference was a little bit too much for them.”
He admitted that the swimmers still need to work to improve their times if they are to make the standard for the Olympics.
“We still have some work to do. But for Denilson and Donata, they are very close; I think they are like three, four seconds off the times.
“So, they are getting there. They have a chance now that they are swimming in America for their universities, so hopefully they can go faster,” he said.
For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Zimbabwe were awarded two swimming slots — one male and one female — under the universality entries after finding it difficult to meet the qualifying time, with the Covid-19 pandemic also disrupting the qualification process.
Peter Wetzlar and Katai represented the country in Japan.
“We just have to keep working, keep grinding, keep training. That’s all we can do and hope that one day we get the times,” added Takaedza.
Zimbabwe Swimming acting chairperson Patience Kalipengule said the athletes are doing their best.
“We had four swimmers who attended Doha. I think they did put in the training and they put in the work.
“We had Donata Katai with a PB, and our overall top performer of the four athletes was Denilson Cyprianos. They did try their best and we are quite happy with their performance,” said Kalipengule.
“They all didn’t make it to the finals. But I think it’s a step forward in the right direction.
“I think in swimming, even if you don’t get a medal, the fact that you have made a PB is the most important thing. So, yes, definitely, our aim is to get qualifying times.
“But if we don’t, we still believe our swimmers are the best and they are doing the best that they can because they still get PBs.
“And those PBs are an encouragement because you always, when you are in any sport, you are always working to better yourself.”
Some of the swimmers are expected to be part of Team Zimbabwe travelling to Ghana for the African Games, which will be running from March 8 to 23.
With the African Games also serving as an Olympics-qualifying platform for a number of disciplines, including swimming, the swimmers know they have another chance to take a crack at the global sport showpiece in France.
“We are expecting big things. These are our top swimmers. We are sending the cream, our top swimmers, to these Games (African), so we expect good performance definitely,” added Kalipengule.
