Story by Raynald Ngwarati
TRIATHLETES are geared for the 2025 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon set for Troutbeck resort in Nyanga this Saturday.
With the 2025 edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup set to roar into life this Saturday, athletes are relinquishing the prospect of showcasing their prowess at one of the top triathlon events in the world.
Missing the evergreen Andie Kuipers due to an achilles injury, Zimbabwe has shifted focus towards development as the country will not be represented in the elite category, but will enjoy a sizeable representation in the Africa Junior Cup featuring participants from South Africa and Namibia.
Nicole Madya returns to the Troutbeck Course after missing last year’s edition, to bring the number of Zimbabweans in the Africa Junior Cup to four, alongside boys Stanley Chasakara, Callum Smith and Mandlenkosi Mthethwa.
“I feel like two years has been a lot, but I did come up here over half term for a training camp, so I feel like I have a good view of what to expect tomorrow. There is a lot of pressure from a lot of people with regards to that, but I have been putting a lot of work into my training, and I am just trusting in that, and hopefully it will work out tomorrow,” Madya said.
International participants are also optimistic of conquering the terrain.
“Since I’m coming from the junior background, it’s been a bit tough. Training has not necessarily been the best in the past couple of months, but the last month was key actually. I am going in with a clear head and focused. I need to be confident because I am racing against the best,” South African Triathlete Bongani Tshabalala said.
“I have my sight on one big goal. I need to score points and move up the world ranking and start racing at the higher levels, world cups and world series,” USA Triathlete Nathan Cohen said.
Triathletes from countries like Sweden, the United States, Finland and the Netherlands to mention only a few, will all be eyeing honours at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup, which gets underway this Saturday.
