Kuipers out to inspire upcoming athletes
ZIMBABWE’S Andie Kuipers (pictured below) is hoping her participation in the elite women at the 2024 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup today at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga will inspire upcoming athletes to aim higher.
Kuipers, who is the country’s sole representative in the elite category, is confident of an exciting race as she returns to Troutbeck for the first time in four years.
The Africa Cup runs concurrently with the Africa Junior Cup.
“I am really excited . . . I think it’s really special to be able to race at home and since I came back, there is just so much support and I know everybody who is here. So, I am really excited and I feel like my preparations have gone pretty good.”
“I remember being a junior and we had an elite male. It was Gideon Benade when I was young and to me it didn’t even matter where he placed, it was just like amazing to have somebody racing there to cheer on because it’s different when you are cheering for another country.
“But when it’s your own country it’s just a special feeling and when I watched him, I remember thinking like I wanted to do that one day. So hopefully I can be that for other athletes,” said Kuipers.
The event has attracted 14 elite men and women. The Junior Cup is also set to feature 14 athletes.
Kuipers, who is studying Psychology at Wingate University in the United States, has temporarily moved back home and has taken a semester off her studies to focus on her races as she seeks to accumulate points for qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“If I can get points early in the season it’s going to set me up for later. And it’s also important to me, I want to do my country proud as well. So that’s another thing to consider but in terms of getting some early points it is pretty critical for me,” said Kuipers.
Kuipers is likely to face some stiff competition from the likes of seasoned triathlete Kahina Mebarki of Algeria.
Marit Van Den Berg from Netherlands, who participated in last year’s edition and finished seventh is hoping for an improved performance.
“I am really happy to come back here because I really enjoyed the race last year…I think it’s good to know the course and to know how hard it is.
“So, I really know what to expect. And I think last year I finished like seventh, so since there are only seven athletes, I definitely want to do better than last year,” said Van Den Berg.
In the elite men, athletes expected to compete today include Jean Gael Laurent L`entete from Mauritius, who will be competing for the third time here at Troutbeck.
“It’s my third time racing here so I know a little bit about the race, the run course, the bike course and the swim. I know what to expect, how difficult it is here.
“And the altitude, I will try to cope as much as possible to do my best and get maximum points for my quest over qualification for Paris 2024.”
For the Africa Junior Cup, Zimbabwe are being represented by Callum Smith, Rohnan Nicholson, Stanely Chasakara and Mandlenkosi Mthethwa. They are up against athletes from South Africa and Namibia.
Chasakara is looking forward to the experience.
“I have only been in the sport for about two or three years and I am not going to expect much but I am going to do my best.
“I have been competing with my good friend Callum for a long time and I hope we can have some decent competition tomorrow, said Chasakara.
In the junior women’s section South Africa’s Kadence Ribbink will be hoping to defend her title.
She is up against fellow South Africans Mia Van De Veen, who came third last year and Anika Visser.
They will be joined by Namibia’s Maja Jeanne Brinkmann.
Zimbabwe is not represented in the junior women.
The organisers have over the years developed the event to become a multi-sport festival featuring a number of other events that include corporate challenge, aquathlon, open water swim, mountain biking and they are introducing trail run for the first time at this year’s edition.