ZIMBABWE'S elite triathlete Andie Kuipers will miss next month's Bonaqua Triathlon Africa Cup Troutbeck event due to injury.
The event, scheduled for March 8, will be held at the scenic Nyanga resort.
Kuipers, who is currently recovering from an Achilles injury, expressed her disappointment at missing the event.
"Unfortunately I will not be at Troutbeck this year due to a small injury as well as not being in Zimbabwe," Kuipers told NewsDay Sport.
"I've just picked up an Achilles injury, which has meant I haven’t been running probably for a few weeks now but am in good hands at the moment. The Prime High Performance Centre in Durban, South Africa, is helping me manage it."
Despite the injury, Kuipers remains optimistic about her recovery and future performance.
"I expect to be back and up and running again by the end of March. While my running won’t be in peak shape for the African champs which are in April, I have been putting everything into swimming and cycling which has improved significantly over the last few weeks. I know I am in a good place with that and hopefully that fitness will carry me through," Kuipers said.
Kuipers admitted that missing Troutbeck is heartbreaking, as it's her home race and an opportunity to represent Zimbabwe.
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"...it is heartbreaking not to be there to represent my country and federation at one of Zimbabwe’s most outstanding events held in the year," she said.
"I am always so proud to represent Triathlon Zimbabwe at this event, they are truly one of a kind when it comes to organising such a spectacular race and I am gutted to miss it. But in saying that, my career is only just beginning and I don’t want to go to Troutbeck and come 5th. I want to stand on the start line knowing that I can win and that’s my intention in years to come."
Kuipers has single-handedly shouldered the pressure of representing Zimbabwe in elite triathlon events.
"I try not to let the 'pressure' feel like a weight, but maybe rather a responsibility to do my country proud as well as recognise the opportunities the sport gives me. It's a privilege to represent Zimbabwe," Kuipers said.
"I’m so proud to do so, as well as being the only elite triathlete. I only hope to be of inspiration and establish a pathway for our future athletes to follow."
With Kuipers' absence, Zimbabwe will be without an elite representative at the Bonaqua Triathlon Africa Cup Troutbeck. However, there's speculation that 46-year-old Greer Wynn might come out of retirement to raise the country's flag one more time.
