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Zimbabwean ready to make history in Olympic mountain bike race
Antipass Kwari is under no illusions about his chances of medal glory ahead of this Saturday's Olympic mountain bike gold race.
But his coach Wayne Davidson is getting excited about the opportunity Kwari, the first Zimbabwean to compete in Olympic mountain biking, has to showcase the sport to Africa.
"The importance of this cannot be put into words. It is absolutely monstrous for us," said Davidson. "Cycling is very difficult to develop in Africa. With one soccer ball you can have 22 players. To develop a cyclist you need one bicycle. It's beyond the means of most people.
"Getting bikes for riders and keeping them maintained with spare parts, that's the challenge. Talent-wise, it’s limitless."
As one of three African starters, Kwari perhaps would have preferred racing on a wide-open plain instead of the demanding up-and-down 4.5km loop that will be raced for two hours west of Beijing.
"For training, we just go into the bush," said Davidson. "We don't have a purpose-built trail anywhere. We can go to places where no human foot has ever touched, but we're leaving behind mountain bike tracks."
It's not an exaggeration to say that Kwari has to contend with obstacles that his rivals would have to pay a fortune to see, during an African safari.
Paths used by locals linking remote villages, and the six-foot wide trails left by elephants as they trudge through the bush are perfect training terrain for the African.
It might not compare favorably with the profile of the course at Laoshan, where stars like France's defending champion Julien Absalon are expected to shine.
But Kwari is hoping he can keep the pace.
"I am not in the same class as the big names," said Kwari. "I will just try to do the best I can and show what I can do."
At Laoshan, there will be next to no chance of coming across big game animals. It is not rare for Kwari to come across one in training.
"We follow game trails, or very often the native people walking from one village to the next village," said Davidson.
"Elephants make paths for themselves, six-foot wide, perfect for training. You can bump into one, and that's dangerous."
Kwari is hoping his chances will be boosted by hot temperatures.
But for the 33-year-old - who secured his ticket to Beijing by finishing third in this year's African championships - his biggest boost could be the lack of pressure.
"I'm getting excited. It's a good atmosphere here in Beijing," said Kwari.
"I was a little stressed out at the African championships in Namibia. I wasn't sure I'd make it to Beijing, but now I have a spot I am very happy."
