Kuipers hopeful of qualifying
ZIMBABWE’S Andie Kuipers is this weekend scheduled to take part in the 2024 Asia Triathlon Cup Burabay in Kazakhstan, hoping to seal qualification for the forthcoming Olympic Games.
The race is scheduled for Saturday. Kuipers will compete in the elite women category as she continues to push for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to take place from July 26 to August 11 in France.
Being one of the remaining Zimbabwean hopefuls for the Games, she has made it clear she is going into the races with an open mind while indicating the 2028 Games are more realistic for her.
Triathlon Zimbabwe vice-president Pamela Fulton said, that with the qualification period for triathlon closing this month, Saturday’s race will be her last hope to attain points.
“Yes, this will be her last race before the Olympic qualification cut-off, which is 27 May.
“So, all very close now. At this stage, Zimbabwe is ranked third behind Algeria and South Africa.
“This weekend Andie will need to finish within eight percent of the winner to gain world ranking points to see if she can get her ranking higher than Algeria.
“Once the qualification period is complete it will be revealed whether South Africa have qualified through the natural process or whether they are awarded the new flag position.”
Kuipers will be up against athletes from Hong Kong, Ireland, Uzbekistan, and hosts Kazakhstan, to get more points to improve her chances of qualifying.
Fulton added that they were pleased with the effort and dedication by Kuipers, who is still navigating her way in the elite women, competing against seasoned athletes.
“Andie has worked incredibly hard to reach where she is now, having started her qualification process from such a young age, just coming out of the junior ranks.
“It has been an intense couple of seasons for her studying, and training and thanks to her Olympic Solidarity funding, (she) has managed to travel four continents to gain experience and build her world ranking.
“We are incredibly proud of her efforts towards Paris 2024 and are very excited to see her progress even further as she then works towards her main goal, 2028.
“Wishing Andie all the best this weekend in Burabay, Kazakhstan,” said Fulton.
Kuipers is one of the 10 beneficiaries of the Olympic Solidarity Scholarships for the 2024 Games.
She also has just completed a solid training block in Cape Town, South Africa after competing at the Africa Championships in Egypt.
Before that, she was in Switzerland for a training camp.
She is expected to return home after this weekend’s event to then plan her way forward.
In an interview with ZTN Prime’s Morning Rush recently, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive Marlene Gadzirayi said they were “keeping their fingers crossed” that Kuipers cuts the forthcoming Games.
“We are still hoping for Andie Kuipers. She is third in Africa. Number one is South Africa, number two is Algeria and Andie is in with a shot; she is number three . . . She is in with a chance.
“But if you look at Andie Kuipers she won gold as an Under-23, she competes with elite women and triathlon is usually the women in their 30s, it’s all about endurance and all.
“If she misses this one, she is going to Los Angeles in 2028. But she has taken a semester off her studies to focus on trying to qualify for Paris. So, we are also having our fingers crossed.” Some of the events Kuipers has competed this year include the 2024 Africa Triathlon Championships Hurghada, the African Games in Accra, Ghana, the 2024 Africa Triathlon Cup Maselspoort, and the 2024 Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck.