Zimbabwean qualifies for Paris Olympics

Zimbabwean rower Stephen Cox, based in England, has secured a spot in the Men's Single Sculls for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris. His qualification came after an impressive performance at the African Rowing Championships in Tunisia.

As a Lance Corporal in the British Army, Cox's dedication paid off as he clinched one of the five Olympic spots allocated for Africa through continental qualification regattas. In the finals of the Men's Single Sculls, he achieved fourth place with a finishing time of 07:25:22, just 23.44 seconds behind the leading boat piloted by Egypt's Abdelkhalek Elbanna, who won the African title.

Algeria's Sid Ali Boudina claimed second place, securing his third Olympic Games qualification, and Mohamed Taieb from Tunisia secured third place. Cox, originally from Harare and now residing in Henley-on-Thames, England, came in fourth, ahead of Angola's Andre Matias.

Expressing his excitement on Instagram, Cox mentioned that hard work pays off and expressed his gratitude for the support he received on his journey to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) also extended its congratulations to Cox for his remarkable achievement.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.