A NEW wave of Olympic Solidarity funding is reshaping Zimbabwe’s sporting landscape, and three rising stars—triathlete Andie Kuipers, sprinters Makanaka Charamba and Tapiwa Makarawu—are riding the surge straight to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
When the Olympic Solidarity scholarship ceremony lit up Harare’s Nedbank organised event last month, the buzz was not just about the nine athletes receiving funding – it was about three standout names who are already shaping Zimbabwe’s future at the world’s biggest stage.
Andie Kuipers, the nation’s rising triathlon star, took centre stage even in absentia. Fresh from a truncated three‑year buildup to Paris 2024, the 22‑year‑old has now entered a four‑year runway to Los Angeles 2028.
“The scholarship changes everything,” said Triathlon Zimbabwe vice‑president Pam Fulton, who spoke exclusively to Standard Sport.
“Without it Andie couldn’t travel to the European circuit, log the miles and climb the rankings. The IOC and ZOC have put real faith in her, and we’re grateful.”
Kuipers’ scholarship runs until August 2028, giving her the financial breathing room to add key races to her calendar and sharpen her swim‑bike‑run splits.
Her transition from a junior U19 sensation to elite U23 competitor has been swift, and with more experience under her belt, she’s eyeing a spot at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Joining her in the spotlight were two of Zimbabwe’s fastest track talents: Makanaka Charamba and Tapiwa Makarawu.
Both athletes, also recipients of the Olympic Solidarity grant, are leveraging the funding to compete in overseas meets that will boost their World Athletics rankings.
Charamba, a sprinter with a personal best under 10 seconds in the 100 m, plans to use the extra competition exposure to fine‑tune his start.
Makarawu, a track and field specialist, hopes the scholarship will cover travel to European Grand Prix events, crucial for qualifying for the 2028 Games.
The ceremony, attended by US Ambassador Pamela Tremont and Ministry of Sport representative Cynthia Mawema, celebrated not just the trio but the entire cohort of scholarship winners.
Named alongside Kuipers, Charamba and Makarawu were swimmers Anje van As and Paige Van Der Westhuizen, tennis ace Benjamin Lock, and athletics stand‑outs Ashley Miller, Paige Van Der Westhuizen, Tendai Zimuto and Vimbai Maisvoreva.
“It’s about building a pipeline,” Fulton added.
“When we support athletes like Andie, Makanaka and Tapiwa, we show young Zimbabweans that the Olympic dream is attainable. Their progress fuels the whole nation.”
As the countdown to LA 28 begins, the trio is already mapping out ambitious race calendars. Kuipers eyes a series of European triathlons, while Charamba and Makarawu target World Athletics Series events.
With Olympic Solidarity backing, they are poised to turn heads, raise the Zimbabwean flag and inspire the next generation of Olympians.
