ZIMBABWE track and field star Ngonidzashe Makusha is gunning for a podium finish at the 2014 World Indoor Championships to be held in Sopot, Poland in March.
DANIEL NHAKANISO
Makusha, who struggled to return to his best last year after suffering a serious injury just before the 2012 London Olympics plans to maintain a duel focus on the long jump and the 100m, with the former event his priority at the world indoors in Poland.
“I want to go to the 2014 World Indoor Championships, go well there and be on the podium,” Makusha told UK-based Spikes Magazine.
“In 2014, I also really want to also get back to sprinting consistently and bring my times down to run like a world-class sprinter.”
The 26–year-old US-based star described his untimely injury just before the Olympics as “devastating”, adding that after getting his body back into shape last year he was ready to challenge for honours again.
“It was very devastating, but I’m a spiritual guy and I believe everything happens for a reason,” he says. “I just had to accept it, get the problem fixed and move on.”
After the injury before the Olympics it took nine months before Makusha could lift weights again. After a limited base of winter training he returned to competition in April 2013, after an 11-month hiatus.
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He leapt to a wind-assisted best of 8,20m in Hengelo (his legal best in 2013 was 8,04m) and describes his comeback year as “very good,” despite missing out on the Moscow 2013 World Championships.
“Last season I was just getting my body used to working up the muscles I hadn’t used in a while,” says Makusha, who is coached by former Zimbabwean Olympic hurdler Ken Harnden for the sprints and American Dennis Nobles for the long jump.
“Training has been great and although there is a lot to do, I’m in a good place.”
In 2011, Makusha emerged as one of the world’s most exciting talents with a spectacular double at the NCAA Championships.
Makusha evoked memories of the legendary Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens to do the NCAA 100m and long jump double.
He did so with national records of 9,89m for the 100m and 8,40m for the long jump, and then took bronze at the Daegu 2011 World Championships.
Ostensibly on the cusp of a special career, injury cruelly struck in May 2012.
The Florida-based Makusha ruptured an Achilles during a routine training session, leaving his Olympic dreams in tatters.
Now on the long journey back to fitness, the 26-year-old is aiming to make his mark at the 2014 World Indoor Championships.
