Team Zim returns home empty handed

It was mixed fortunes for Zimbabwe's three marathon runners at the Rio 2016 Olympics as Pardon Ndhlovu finished 41st, Cuthbert Nyasango 58th and Wirimai Zhuwawo failed to complete the 42km race.

Team Zimbabwe's medal chase at the Rio 2016 Olympics concluded on a rather low tide as the men's marathon found the going tough in one of the games last events .

A promising start by Nyasango and Zhuwawo in the opening 10km of the race radiated some medalling hope but it was soon to die out as the distance increased and edged closer to the finish line.

Along the way Zhuwawo was to fall by the wayside and in the end it was the underdog Ndlovu who made a surprise first place finish for team Zimbabwe at position 41 in a time of 2.17.48 hours before Nyasango came through at position 58 in 2.18.58 hours.

The result means team Zimbabwe will return home empty handed in terms of medals but with many positive lessons on how the Olympics are prepared for, executed and managed.