Paris Olympics 2024: Makarawu, Charamba impress in qualifying heats; through to semis

ZIMSPHERE 

PARIS, France — Zimbabwean sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba are through to the semi-finals of the Men’s 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, after both coming second in their respective heats. 

Tapiwanashe Makarawu completes Heat 3 of the Men's 200M at the 2024 Paris Olympics [Image: Zimbabwe Olympic Committee]

Makarawu participated in Heat 5 and ran 20.07, behind USA’s Erriyon Knighton and ahead of South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi. Makarawu holds the Zimbabwe record for the 200m at 19.93.

Charamba competed in Heat 3, where he clocked in at 20.27 behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and ahead of Italy’s Filippo Tortu.

Makanakaishe Charamba in Heat 5 of the Men's 200M at the 2024 Paris Olympics [Image: Zimbabwe Olympic Committee]

American Noah Lyles who scooped gold in the Men’s 100M on Sunday clocked in at 20.19.

The Top 3 from each of the six heats will compete in the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday at 2002hrs. The final is set for Thursday at 2030hrs. 

Charamba and Makarawu become the first of the seven athletes representing Zimbabwe at the 2024 Olympics to reach the semi-finals of their event. Steven Cox managed to scrape through to the repechage of the Men’s Single Sculls and finished 5th in the Final E, ultimately ranking 29th out of 33 participants. In the Women’s 100m freestyle, Paige van der Westhuizen won her heat, but finished 25th overall. Denilson Cyprianos was 28th overall in the Men’s 200m backstroke. 

Only two Zimbabwean athletes, Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora, are yet to compete — in the Men’s and Women’s marathons respectively.