Story by Anashe Murombedzi
ZIMBABWE’s elite triathletes are preparing for a high-stakes weekend at the 2026 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multi-Sport Festival, which begins this Saturday at Troutbeck Resort.
The festival is expected to draw top international competitors, providing a platform for athletes to earn valuable World Rankings points ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In the women’s elite category, Zimbabwe’s top triathlete Andie Kuipers returns after a previous absence, aiming to secure points to strengthen her continental ranking.
“Your points set your ranking, and to qualify for LA, you need to be top two in Africa, so I need to get as many points as I can from now until May 2028,” she said.
She will face competition from Zimbabwean junior talent Rachel O’Donoghue, who is making her elite debut and seeking experience, alongside Germany’s Jule Behrens.
“I think from this race I will gain a lot of experience, and I am excited. Going forward, this experience will be good for future races,” O’Donoghue said.
“I am looking forward to this because it is my first race of the season, and it is always competitive. We don’t know how hard it will be, but I just want to have fun since my last season didn’t have any races. I’m happy to take part, and I will give it my best,” Germany triathlete Jule Behrens said.
Zimbabwe will also field junior athletes, including Matthew Hildebrand, Zizael Manyati, Callum Smith, and Zander Botha, who recently competed at the Africa Triathlon Junior Cup in Ebotse.
Over the years, the Bonaqua event has evolved from a single triathlon into a multi-sport festival, featuring a range of competitions and activities alongside the main triathlon, thereby further raising its profile in the region.
