BY MAGRETH RUZVIDZO Zimbabwe’s swimming team took its medal haul to 17 after scooping 11 medals at the ongoing African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games in Maseru, Lesotho, yesterday.
The team bagged three gold and four silver medals on Monday.
Donata Katai, who previously managed to set her personal best time of 1:02:73 seconds in the 100m backstroke heat at the Japan Tokyo Olympics held in July, is part of Zimbabwe’s team.
Swimming team manager Sharon Chitsurura wasn’t confident at first with her team, considering that the participants did not have enough competition and time for preparations.
Despite odds being staked against them, the team, however, managed to give a commendable performance in their respective races.
Yesterday, Katai was the only one who secured a gold medal in the 100m backstroke.
Paige van der Westhuizen and Mgbemena Chinyerere bagged silver medals in the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, respectively, while Tanatsirwa Chitsurura scooped the same medals in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke events.
Bronze medals were delivered by Tanatsirwa in 100m freestyle, Oostindien Jake in 100m breaststroke, Riana Rollo in 100m backstroke and Schultz Timea in 50m backstroke.
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Another bronze came from the 4x100m medley relay team of Jasper Mpofu, Jake, Franceys Ryan and Dylan Lee.
Team Zimbabwe spokesperson Ranson Madzamba said he was proud of the performance of the Zimbabwe contingent.
“Team Zimbabwe is shining. They are making us proud. We have capable athletes who are ever ready to lift the nation’s flag. The team is actually helping in branding and we have capable national teams in the making,” Madzamba said.
“AUSC Region 5 Games are providing our athletes with the right exposure and trust me, our thrust to develop sport into a vibrant industry can be achieved and this tallies well with our national economic blueprint.”
Gymnastics became the first sport to register a bronze medal at the event through Misheck Mbele.
- Follow Magreth on Twitter @MagrethRuzvidzo
