Team Zimbabwe’s new blood
MIKALYA MAKWABARARA, who turned 16 yesterday, will write another piece of history when she travels to Accra, Ghana, as one of the three youngest members of Team Zimbabwe at the African Games.
Rohnan Nicholson, Calum Smith and Makwabarara will be part of the cast that will compete at the quadrennial Pan-African sports showpiece scheduled for March 8-23.
Makwabarara, a teenage swimming sensation, celebrated her birthday thousands of kilometres away from home.
She is determined to help her team of swimmers to secure a podium finish in Ghana.
Last week, she was presented with full national colours — a green blazer and tie — in absentia by the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union during the Zimbabwe swimming championships at Les Brown.
As a 14-year-old, Makwabarara was in the team that represented Zimbabwe at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Games in Malawi, which brought back three medals.
But the African Games, which have a bigger challenge and higher profile, are the ultimate sports showcase on the continent.
Makwabarara, who is now based in the United Kingdom, is one of the 10 swimmers who will take to the blue waters and challenge for honours at the Games, including in the 100 metres freestyle.
The other swimmers are Joash McKonie, Donata Katai, Denilson Cyprianos, Liam Davis, Benjamin Rorke, Bjorn Mhlanga, captain Paige Van Der Westhuizen, Vhenekai Dhemba and Olivia Accorsi.
Makwabarara is the youngest of that group of swimmers but appears to have already matured beyond her teenage years.
In 2020, she hogged the limelight when she broke Kirsty Coventry’s 25-year national record in the 100m freestyle after clocking 1:03,97s.
She also followed this up with some decent performances at the Africa and World Junior Aquatic championships in Mauritius and Israel last year.
She might have recently enrolled at Millfield School in the UK five months ago, but her father, Brian, and coaches have been impressed by the strides she is making.
“Makwabarara is the youngest of that group of swimmers, but appears to have already matured beyond her teenage years. In 2020, she hogged the limelight when she broke Kirsty Coventry’s 25-year national record in the 100m freestyle after clocking 1:03,97s.”
“She is in the UK to access better facilities, heated swimming pools and she has already started improving.
“The coaches are happy with the progress she has been making and they are working on her technique and aerobics, and they