It’s awesome foursome at world champs

FOUR Buffalo City biathle and triathle stars returned from the recent world championships in Viviero, Spain with medals after excelling at the annual event.

Anita Louw, Rodney Westgate, Luke Tinhoff and Liam Prime all managed top three finishes in various events in a solid showing against the best biathle and triathle talents from across the world.

Louw picked up two gold medals and two silver medals in a top effort, picking up team golds in the mixed biathle race and team triathle event and then two individual silvers for the biathle and triathle races in her age group.

“Anita is one of our most experienced seniors and she is still racing and doing extremely well,” said Sammy Saunders, coach of the local athletes.

“She has been to many world champs events and this has been her best showing with two team golds and two individual silvers.”

Westgate picked up three medals, a gold in the biathle mixed event, silver for the biathle team event and bronze in the individual biathle race.

“Rodney battled with an ankle injury in the buildup to the champs and wasn’t able to train during a crucial period so he did very well under the circumstances to come away with medals,” said Saunders.

Tinhoff came home with two medals, a gold in the biathle team event and bronze in the biathle individual race, while Prime picked up a bronze medal in the biathle team event.

“A youngster like Luke who came 13th at the SA champs and then goes over and comes third in the world in the individual race, that’s a huge achievement and Liam also did very well to get a team bronze medal,” said Saunders.

A further four athletes, Samantha Mouton, Sanchia Poovan and Batanai and Batsirai Muzenda also competed but did not manage to get on the podium.

“I think they all did brilliantly although they didn’t come away with medals, it is a different ball game racing overseas compared to in SA and the experience will stand them in very good stead going forward,” said Saunders.

“An athlete like Samantha is a very strong talent and she battled with a slight injury before she left and was thus not as prepared as she could have been, but I believe she will definitely be amongst the medals in the near future.”