BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
TEENAGE swimming sensation Donata Katai is in line to represent the country at next month’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games, which will see her becoming the youngest member of Team Zimbabwe at the global sporting showpiece which takes place from July 23 to August 8.
Katai, who celebrated her 17th birthday last month, was yesterday confirmed as one of the potential recipients of the two slots awarded to Zimbabwe by the International Swimming Federation (Fina) under the universality entries.
The universality entries system allows a nation with no Olympic qualifier to enter up to one male and one female swimmer for the Tokyo Games.
The Gateway High School pupil has been nominated by the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union (ZAU) alongside USA-based Peter Wetzlar, who is on a swimming scholarship at the University of Kentucky for both the female and male categories respectively.
Swimming’s international governing body Fina is expected to make the final confirmation on the duo’s selection on July 2.
If Katai’s participation at this year’s Olympic Games is approved by Fina, she would have emulated her role model, swimming legend Kirsty Coventry who also made her Olympic debut at the age of 17 during the Sydney 2000 Games 21 years ago.
Katai has been on the rise in the past few years breaking several national records, which were set by the seven-time Olympic medalist Coventry, who is now the country’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
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The allocation of the two swimming slots was confirmed by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC)’s chief excecutive officer Stephen Mudawarima after yesterday’s team management for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held virtually in line with Covid-19 protocols and guidelines.
In addition to the swimming slots, Mudawarima also revealed that the National Athletics Association (NAAZ) has been offered a universality slot by World Athletics, which has been allocated to sprinter Ngonidzashe Makusha.
The locally-based Makusha shares the same name and surname with the 35 year-old former sprinter and long jumper, who represented the country at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
“National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has since been offered a universality slot by World Athletics. This entry of unqualified athletes is subject to the approval of the Technical Delegates based on the technical standards of the athlete and the number of qualified athletes in the respective events. The athlete that has been submitted for the slot is Ngoni Makusha, who is currently in camp in South Africa,” he said.
He added: “Chengetayi Mapaya had qualified according to the official ranking, but a report from America is that he has picked up a terrible injury requiring 12-14 weeks for rehabilitation. This effectively rules him out of Tokyo 2020.”
Meanwhile, golfer Scott Vincent is on course to book his ticket to Tokyo as he is currently well placed at position 54 out of the required field of 60 players on the Olympic rankings ahead of tomorrow’s cutoff date.
Vincent will join rower Peter Purcell, who will represent Zimbabwe in the men’s single scull event at the Olympics.
Zimbabwe’s national rugby sevens team, the Cheetahs are currently in Monaco for the Rugby Sevens Olympic Repechage tournament which they need to win to book their ticket to Tokyo.
The Daniel Hondo-coached side began their campaign with a 21-0 win over Mexico on Friday evening before losing their two Pool A matches against Ireland (31-10) and Samoa (33-7) yesterday to effectively bow out of contention for a place in the semifinals.
Zimbabwe will face Tonga in their final Pool A game today with a place in the semis seemingly out of their reach.
