Story by Anashe Murombedzi, Sports Reporter
The 2024 Summer Olympics roar into life in Paris, France on Friday with Team Zimbabwe eager to make a mark.
Zimbabwe will be represented by seven athletes including long-distance runners Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora, sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, rower Stephen Cox, and swimmers Denilson Cyprianos and Paige Van der Westuizen.
Team Zimbabwe’s, Chef de Mission, Ringisai Mapondera is already in France.
“We are anticipating that the first lot will be in Paris from the 28th of July, so everyone else will arrive depending on when they are competing. The last to arrive will be the marathoners, as track and field events will take place towards the end of the competition,” said Mapondera.
Apart from the athletes, four Zimbabwean technical officials have been invited to the Olympics.
The hockey pair Kays Kanyangara and Sarah Bennett will be joined in Paris by Triathlon’s Cathy Jennings and Dave Ellis.
Zimbabwe has eight Olympic medals, three gold, four silver, and one bronze.
Seven of these medals were scooped by Africa’s most decorated Olympian Kirsty Coventry, now the Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
The first was secured in 1980 by the Zimbabwe Women’s hockey team popularly known as the Golden Girls.
The 2024 Summer Olympics will run until the 11th of August, featuring 204 countries competing in 32 different sport codes.
