Learning curve
SWIMMER Donata Katai says she picked priceless lessons at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan which wil help her, in the long-term, in her career.
The 17-year-old Gateway High student came first in Heat One, of the 100m backstroke, but her 1 minute 02.73 wasn’t good enough, to progress to the semi-finals.
She finished 34th, in the overall ratings, out of 41 swimmers, but posted a personal best time in the event.
Speaking upon her arrival, at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport yesterday, Katai said the future looks bright.
“It was a learning curve. I didn’t win but I picked a lot of positives,” she said. “To be at the Olympics was a dream come true and the future looks bright.
“The atmosphere at the Olympics was amazing and you had to encourage yourself to hit the high notes.
‘’It was quite an experience. “Despite my failing to reach the semi-final, I am happy with the way everything went. It was a good platform to compete and I am extremely happy with what I did.”
She said she was happy for posting a personal best time, in the event, while reserving special praise for to her Sharks Club coach, Kathy Lobb.
“It’s so encouraging, I wanted to do better than what I did but, being able to post a personal best time, is something I am happy about,’’ she said.
“It was great and I am looking forward to doing better with each coming event.
“Many thanks to Lobb (Kathy) who drilled me ahead of the Olympics. We couldn’t have proper preparation for the Games, due to Covid-19 complications, but I salute her.”
Katai said she will be preparing for the upcoming events but will not make any big move before she finishes her academic studies.
She is a Lover Sixth student at Gateway. “As much as I will be working so hard to try and improve, in all the aspects of swimming, I want to first finish my studies.
‘’I will see what comes out after that.” Katai was accompanied by national coach Lindsay Tudor.
The other only swimmer at the Olympics, Peter Wetzlar, was with the duo on the same plane but couldn’t come out for interviews, as he was in transit, waiting for a connecting flight to South Africa, where he is based.
Wetzlar, just like Katai, missed out on the semi-finals, in the men’s 100m freestyle, when he finished fifth in Heat Four, in a time of 50.31 seconds.
The 24-year-old also posted a personal best time and set a new national record.
Katai’s parents, Desdemona and Luigi Katai, together with some staffers from the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, welcomed her back home.
Luigi said he was proud of his daughter. “She started swimming when she was still very young,” he said. “There were a lot of challenges, along the way, but we had to overcome
them for her sake.
“Seeing her growing up, and her love for sport, we never expected that one day she would be at the Olympics.
“This is the biggest sports showpiece in the world, and for your daughter, as young as she is to be amongst the participants, is something that I am very proud of.
“We have been investing in her and what a way of making us proud. I am very happy, as a parent for what she has done, not only for the family, but for the nation.
“I am sure she picked some big lessons from the Olympics and she will be developing
from that.
“There are races coming her way and I believe she will be able to win.’’
He emphasised the importance of her completing her studies.
“At the moment, she will also be concentrating on her studies while also fine-tuning some of the aspects of her sport.
“She has two siblings, who are also into sport, and I believe sport runs in the family.
“But, it is Donata who has proven to be outstanding, we are all happy for her and we will keep on supporting her as much as we can.”