By Munyaradzi Madzokere

VETERAN female cyclist and triathlete Greer Wynn has been around for close to 30 years in the sport and yet she feels that this could be her year at the 14th edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup set for Troutbeck, Nyanga this weekend.

Wynn will be flying the Zimbabwe flag in the elite women category at the rescheduled flagship annual international event on the Triathlon Zimbabwe calendar.

This year’s event is unique in that it is being held in the month of September for the first time.

It is the first big triathlon event since the Covid-19 outbreak in the country and that it will have an African feel with eight countries represented and only one European country.

Thus it would be befitting for a unique 45-year old Zimbabwean athlete to win the elite women category or at least make the podium places.

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Wynne is aiming for at least a podium finish.

“To be honest I am up against stiff competition with the South Africans. There are two South African elite class ladies and they are good, they are fast but I am not counting myself out,” the veteran triathlete told The Sports Hub.

“I have got an engine on me that can counterbalance these two ladies. It’s going to be tough, but if I can finish in the top three I would be happy. My goal is to get on the podium to fly the flag for Zimbabwe.”.

A full-time mother of three year old girl Zayde, Wynn did not compete in the elite class but in the age-group citing lack of confidence.

But this time around she is buzzing and looking to cause an upset. She reflects on her journey as a triathlete as well as cycling in Zimbabwe.

“I have been doing triathlon for 30 years, that is since I was in senior school. I started when I was 15 years old and I went on to compete at the 1995 All Africa Games.

“Road cycling is my main game where I shine. I am very strong on the bike; I can really demolish the ladies on the bike, which is really my game plan for Troutbeck

“I know the course I have done it before. I know the altitude, I know the climbs and if you can sprint the corners and climb the hills you really can capitalise,” she said.

“I have always had passion for the bicycle since I was around 11 years old. I got my parents to buy me a road bicycle with gears and I loved riding around the roads of Harare. In the end I had to take it to make a career out of it,” Wynn said.

While she certainly does not have a long triathlon career ahead of her, Wynn is encouraged by the number and quality of young athletes that Triathlon Zimbabwe is churning out.

“I think we are on a positive note as a country. We have got some super athletes coming up the ranks, strong men and strong women.

“And there is this particular strong lady Makanaka Mawere, a junior, but I do not doubt her.

“She is strong, she is developing and she is becoming mature. She has a very strong swim on her, so she is one to watch especially at Troutbeck next week,” Wynne said.

A total of 31 athletes from nine countries, eight of them African, will gather at Troutbeck on September 25 for this year’s edition of the Africa Triathlon Cup.