Chengetayi Mapaya, Zimbabwe’s top triple jumper, is confident that he will secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Confederation of African Athletics Senior Championships today.
Despite coming off an injury, Mapaya is upbeat about his chances, stating that he is “very excited and blessed” to represent Zimbabwe at the championships.
Mapaya, who has a personal best of 17.26m, is chasing a qualifying time of 17.22m. He believes that with a strong mindset and his experience of bouncing back from injuries, he can achieve his goal. “Pressure is a privilege, and pressure makes diamonds,” he said.
Also, he is competing at the African Senior Championships for the first time.
“So definitely, it’s a privilege representing Zimbabwe. I have never competed at the Africa Senior Championships. So I am very excited and blessed to be in this position,” he said.
“It’s something I have always wanted to do. The last time I competed Africa Championships was the Junior Championships and I won that meet and broke the meet record.
“So hopefully I can do the same thing in the Senior Championships also,” he added.
His personal best is 17.26m, posted in 2022.
Mapaya has a chronic knee injury and it was the same injury that denied him an opportunity to make his debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“It’s a second chance, and the first one didn’t go well because of injuries.
“But I bounced back from that injury and I made World Champs.
“So, I am always someone who goes down and comes back up. So, it’s all about the mindset and I know my mind is very strong.
“So, I have done it, and why not do it again? So, I am very confident, looking up, very excited to just put on a show,” said Mapaya.
READ ALSO: Kenyan Athletes Shine at Africa Athletics Senior Championships
Zimbabwe is pinning its hopes on Mapaya and other athletes, including Ashley Kamangirira in the women’s 400m hurdles, Ngoni Makusha and Tapiwanashe Makarawu in the 200m event, and the 4x400m relay team, to secure Olympic qualification.
1 Comment
Pingback: Tobi Amusan Leads Team Nigeria to Gold at African Championships in 4x100m - Mbamali