Sports stakeholders have spoken positively about Team Malawi’s performance at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris, France, despite returning home empty-handed as always.
Swimmers Felipe Gomes and Tayamika Chang’anamuno, and runner Asimenye Simwaka represented Malawi at the global showpiece.
After failing to progress in their respective competitions, the three left the European country and arrived at their bases Thursday.
Gomes was the first to compete among the three but failed to qualify for the next round, finishing eighth in heat five of the 100 metres freestyle while Chang’anamuno finished seventh out of eight competitors in heat four of the women’s 50 metres freestyle.
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Simwaka finished eighth in the women’s 100 metres in the second round, clocking 11.91 seconds, and was unable to qualify to the next round.
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Former runner Catherine Chikwakwa said Simwaka remains Malawi’s best sprinter.
“She has made history by qualifying for the second round of the Olympic Games. That is history for Malawi. Well done and congratulations to her,” Chikwakwa said.
Swimming coach Yona Walesi said Simwaka has demonstrated that she can win for Malawi in global competitions.
“Simwaka did well for Malawi by making it to the second round. She is still young and growing and there are many years ahead of her. This is an athlete capable of beating her opponents in future,” Walesi said.
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Southern Region Volleyball League Chairperson Ambilike Mwaungulu said there are positives to be drawn from Malawi’s participation in the Games.
“We need to welcome the athletes back home and give them our encouragement. It is good that we are now able to compete in the Olympics. The way forward is that we should increase the numbers. The past was all about solidarity. So we should take good steps forward so that we get counted on the global stage,” Mwaungulu said.
The Olympics officially started on July 26 and are scheduled to end on Sunday. This means Team Malawi will not be part of the closing ceremony.
The move is a departure from the tradition where the Games used to accommodate athletes and officials on the entourage up to the end of the world’s greatest sports to participate in the glamorous closing ceremonies.
Athletics coach Pachisi Nyasulu and his swimming counterpart Brave Lifa also made the trip to France.
