TOP Zimbabwean triathlete Andie Kuipers is poised to unleash her Olympic ambitions at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup, kicking off at Troutbeck, Nyanga, on Saturday.
The Australian-based athlete has set her sights on securing points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as she fields for her maiden women elite race for this year.
Kuipers, who arrived just in time for the event after navigating canceled flights, is treating the competition as a “rust buster” ahead of a busy season.
“Yeah, well I’m always really happy when I can come home. I think I only spend like a week or two weeks a year here. So yeah, I’m really happy and relieved I could be here because all of the flights were canceled. So luckily, yeah, I could get on a last-minute flight to be here. So I’m really happy,” she said.
“Well, it’s the first race of the season, I guess, so I’ve just been putting in a bit of base miles leading up to here. So I’m fit. I wouldn’t come if I wasn’t fit, but it’s more of like a rust buster for me to see how I’ll do for the rest of the year.”
With a focus on securing points, Kuipers is aiming for a top finish, targeting the 8% mark of the winner’s time.
“Yeah, well, I think because it’s the first race, it’s not going to set the tone for my whole year. But of course, I want to do well in front of my friends and family,” Kuipers said.
“That would be important to me. And I mainly just focused on the 8% (of the winner’s time, like getting the points. And yeah, I guess that’s it.”
In a boost for local junior athletes, Rachel O’Donoghue will line up alongside Kuipers and other seasoned athletes in the women’s elite category. The young Zimbabwean is eager to gain experience.
“I don’t have very high expectations. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to race with older women and gain experience,” said O’Donoghue.
The two Zimbabweans will be up against Himeka Sato from Japan and German’s
Jule Behrens both first time entrants at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup.
The Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup promises to be an exciting contest, with Kuipers and O’Donoghue set to put on a show for the home crowd.
