ROBINSON EYES PARIS OLYMPICS
Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, local swimmer, Adrian Robinson, who was 19 years at the time but would not shy away from expressing his intentions to represent the country at the Olympics seems to be on the right track, if his recent performances at the African Games are anything to go by.
Robison is currently going through some high level training in Budapest, Hungary, under the watchful eye of former Hungarian breaststroke swimmer and specialist coach Ákos Molnár, who also has competed at the Olympics level. The local swimming sensation is a product of Phoenix Swimming Club and last week won two bronze medals in Accra, Ghana at the ongoing African Games. The medals came through in the 50m breaststroke clocking a time of 28:28 and 1:03:03 in the 100m breaststroke. The 23 year old told Sun Sport that a podium finish his target in Ghana and expressed his contentment to have secured two medals at the continental games albeit missing out on gold.
“As I approached the African Games, my goal was clear, to secure a medal. Despite knowing the challenges ahead, I remained optimistic about my chances. While winning the gold would have been ideal, I’m genuinely pleased with my performances. The journey to this point was demanding, juggling various competitions while maintaining focus on the African Games,” Robinson highlighted.
He shared that the exposure at the games has equipped him with the much needed experience of competing at a high level which will help him improve going into the future.
“Reflecting on the experience, the games provided invaluable lessons, particularly in fortifying my mental resilience to remain composed and confident amidst challenges and pressure. Additionally, I’ve identified areas for improvement in technique and adjustments to my training program.
Securing both medals holds great significance for me, they instill a sense of confidence, affirming that I’m on the right path and making progress in my career. More importantly, being able to represent my country to the best of my ability adds to the honor and fulfillment of this achievement,” he stated.
Naomi Ruele and James Freeman have represented the country in the previous two Olympic Games, respectively, and Botswana Swimming Sport Association will once more be looking to send a representative to the upcoming Olympic
Games slated for Paris, France in July this year. Robison is a prime candidate alongside Andile Becker and Maxine Egner amongst others.
“The Olympics have always been a lifelong dream, fueling my determination since childhood. As I progress in my career, the realization of competing in the Olympics draws nearer. Paris 2024 is within reach, and even if I fall short, my commitment to the journey remains strong, setting my sights on Los Angeles” he added. Botswana sent a team of four athletes to the competition, and out of thirteen teams, Botswana came 9th on the overall standings with Adrian’s two bronze medals.
“Individually our athletes managed to record personal best times and one podium finish, we are happy with their performance, we are overwhelmed, we faced tough competition from world class talents from the likes of South Africa, Egypt and Algeria; these are countries who have world class facilities which we don’t have, so we are delighted with the outcome results,” Team Manager, Matshelo Radimo, who traveled with the team shared.
He further expressed optimism that some athletes will qualify for the Olympics, noting that Robinson and Egner are not far-off to get the qualifying times.