By Daniel Nhakaniso
Zimbabwe’s Kudakwashe Chigwedere may have missed the podium in his first Paralympics appearance, but the future is bright for the young sprinter.
Despite earning a spot at the Paralympics via a universiality wild card entry, Chigwedere exceeded expectations to reach the final of the men’s 100m – T46/47 category.
On his mazy run to the final 21-year-old Chigwedere, a former student at Watershed College in Marondera, ran a personal best time of 10.78 seconds to finish third in heats and qualify for the final.
His time broke the long standing national record of 10.91sec previously held by his coach, the legendary Elliot Mujaji.
Mujaji won the first ever Paralympic gold medal for Zimbabwe in Sydney in 2000 in the men’s 100m T46 category before defending his title four years later in Athens.
Chigwedere was however unable to emulate his coach by winning a medal in Paris after finishing 8th in Friday’s final in 10.95 seconds.
Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira Dos Santos retained the men’s 100m T47 for the third Games in succession, clocking 10.68 seconds that overcame USA’s Korban Best, who had beaten him in the heats earlier in the day.
“I won this event when I was very young in Rio (2016 Paralympic Games) and that was amazing. Now I am a three-time champion – I have no words to describe this. I am really very happy,” said an elated Dos Santos as he celebrated his won win with his popular backward somersault infront of the deafening crowd.
“It’s been 10 years since I lost a 100m final and it means a lot.
Zimbabwe was represented by two athletes at the Paralympics with Chigwedere being accompanied by Tinotenda Bango who was competing in the women’s 100m.
Even though both athletes had qualified through universality wild cards after missing direct qualification, Chigwedere’s performance has provided a glimpse of a bright future.
Zimbabwe’s best outing at the Paralympics was in 1980 when the won eight silver and four bronze medals.
In the competition’s history Zimbabwe has a total of 16 medals , two gold, nine silvers and six bronze.