Illness gives Mvumvure determination to come back stronger

Sport
ZIMBABWEAN sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure is determined to bounce back stronger with solid performances at the IAAF World Championships and the All-Africa Games after being sidelined for most of the pre-season due to a career-threatening illness.

ZIMBABWEAN sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure is determined to bounce back stronger with solid performances at the IAAF World Championships and the All-Africa Games after being sidelined for most of the pre-season due to a career-threatening illness.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

The 27-year-old sprinter, who in 2013 became only the second Zimbabwean to break the 10 second barrier in the 100m after clocking 9.98 in Montverde, United States, was early this year diagnosed with hypertension and a chronic kidney disease.

After being hospitalised for 10 days in February, Mvumvure would miss over a month of his pre-season training before he was cleared to resume training by his doctors.

“The preparations are going well,” the former African junior champion told NewsDay Sport yesterday.

“Things had come to a halt when I got hospitalised in February due to hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

I missed almost a month before I got cleared by the doctor to start training.

I had to go through a bunch of tests and still going through them. However, I think it was a blessing in disguise because I’m now eating cleaner and better due to the change of diet,” he said.

Mvumvure, who specialises in the 100 and 200m, was part of a provisional 10-member athletics team announced by the Sports and Recreation Commission ahead of the African Games to be held in Congo-Brazzaville from September 4-19.

However, before the continental championships, Mvumvure hopes to qualify for and do well at the 15th IAAF World Championships set for August 22-30 in Beijing, China.

“I know it’s going to be a long season and I should be on schedule to start dropping fast times.

I am hoping to better my times and my goal is to get on the podium in both IAAF World Championships and the All-Africa Games,” the former Louisiana State University ace said.

Mvumvure’s last appearance at a major athletics competition came at last year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Poland where he managed to equal the national 60m indoor record.

Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the final, Mvumvure’s time 6,60secs in the semi-final equalled the previous record which had been set by compatriot Ngonidzashe Makusha in 2009.