Zimbabwe’s sprinting duo, Tapiwa Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, have successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 200m race at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics. Both athletes placed second in their respective heats, raising hopes for a potential medal for Zimbabwe.

Makarawu clocked an impressive 20.07 seconds, while Charamba finished with a time of 20.27 seconds. Their performances have ignited optimism that they could bring home medals in this prestigious event.

Tapiwa Makarawu, a Zimbabwean Olympian, has consistently improved his performance over the years. In April 2023, he set a new personal best and national record in the 200m with a time of 20.10 seconds at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout, breaking Brian Dzingai’s nearly two-decade-old record. Makarawu further lowered his 100m personal best to 10.05 seconds and achieved a sub-20-second time of 19.98 seconds in the 200m before sustaining a minor injury in mid-2023. Despite missing the semi-finals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, he continued to excel, clocking an indoor 200m personal best of 20.29 seconds in January 2024 and an outdoor best of 19.93 seconds in April 2024.

Makanakaishe Charamba, a standout athlete from Carson-Newman University, has also made significant strides in his sprinting career. In 2022, he was named the SAC Men’s Track & Field Freshman of the Year and the SAC Outdoor Championship Athlete of the Meet. Charamba set a school record in the 200m with a time of 20.41 seconds at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and later won titles in the 100m and 200m at the NCAA Division 2 Championships with wind-assisted times of 10.02 and 20.19 seconds. In May 2024, he qualified for the Paris Olympics by running 20.00 seconds in the 200m final at the Southeastern Conference championship in Florida, and later lowered his personal best to 19.95 seconds in Lexington, Kentucky.

If Makarawu and Charamba secure medals, they will become the first Zimbabweans to win an Olympic medal in Track and Field. The semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday at 8:00 PM Zimbabwe time, with the final taking place on Thursday at 8:30 PM Zimbabwe time. Additional semi-finalists will be confirmed after Tuesday’s repechage rounds.