British Army Corporal Stephen Cox to launch Team Zimbabwe’s Paris 2024 campaign
Paris — British Army athlete Corporal Stephen Cox will kick off Team Zimbabwe’s Olympic journey today at the Paris 2024 Games.
As the sole rower in Zimbabwe’s compact seven-member squad, Cox’s participation in the Men’s Single Sculls marks a significant moment for the nation’s Olympic aspirations.
The Paris Games officially commenced yesterday and will run through 11 August. Cox, a member of the Royal Logistic Corps, is determined to make an impact after missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
His Olympic dream, which began at the age of 13, is now within reach following a standout performance at the African qualifiers.
“This dream has been an aspiration of mine since I was 13,” Cox told British army publication MOD. “The support from the British Army has been instrumental in this process.”
Cox has been balancing his Army duties with rigorous training, rowing up to 250 kilometers per week and supplementing with weightlifting and cycling. He recently trained with the Australian rowing team in Sydney, thanks to a partnership between the Zimbabwe and Australian Olympic Committees.
Despite his proud British Army affiliation, Cox competes for Zimbabwe, a situation he acknowledges with some bemusement. “A lot of people get confused about it, but I couldn’t thank the British Army enough. They’ve provided me with the time and resources needed to train effectively,” he said.
Cox’s training regimen, demanding about five hours a day, would have been nearly impossible without the Army’s support. He credits the military with instilling essential values such as courage, discipline, and integrity, which he believes are crucial both in sports and life.
Cox’s rowing career began at Peterhouse Boys’ School in Marondera, Zimbabwe, and he has since competed internationally, with notable finishes including 15th place in the 2024 Rowing World Cup. His ambition for Paris 2024 is to reach the A or B finals.
*Team Zimbabwe Paris 2024 Olympic Schedule*
_26 July, 19:30: Opening Ceremony_
All seven athletes participated in the grand opening at the Stade de France, marking the start of Zimbabwe’s Olympic campaign.
_27 July, 09:00: Men’s Single Sculls (Rowing)_
Steve Cox will compete at Nautic de Vaures Sur Marnes, making his Olympic comeback after missing the Tokyo 2020 Games.
_30 July, 11:00: Women’s 100m Freestyle (Swimming)_
First-time Olympian Paige van der Westhuizen will take to the pool at the Aquatics Olympic Centre, building on her strong performances this year.
The 21-year-old holds the national 50m breaststroke record at 33.59 set at the 2024 African Games in Accra.
_31 July, 11:00: Men’s 200m Backstroke (Swimming)_
First-time Olympian Denilson Cyprianos, 21, will swim at the Aquatics Olympic Centre.
_5 August, 19:55: Men’s 200m Heats (Athletics)_
US-based sprinter Tapiwa Makarawu, along with Makanaka Charamba, will compete in the heats at Stade de France.
_6 August, 12:30: Repechage (Rowing)_
Steve Cox will have another chance to advance in rowing if needed, with hopes of reaching the finals.
_7 August, 20:02: 200m Semi-Finals (Athletics)_
Zimbabwe’s athletes will push for a place in the finals during the semi-finals at Stade de France.
_8 August, 20:30: 200m Finals (Athletics)_
The final for the 200m event at Stade de France will feature top athletes.
_10 August: Men’s Marathon (Athletics)_
Isaac Mpofu will tackle the marathon course from Hotel De Ville to Esplanade des Invalides, representing Zimbabwe in this demanding event.
Zimbabwe’s national record holder in the marathon. Broke the record twice in 2022 when finishing 10th at the world championships in 2:07:56 in July and clocking 2:06:48 in December in Valencia.
_11 August: Women’s Marathon (Athletics)_
Rutendo Nyahora will compete in the women’s marathon, also running from Hotel De Ville to Esplanade des Invalides.
*Historical Context*
Zimbabwe’s Olympic history began in 1928 when they first competed as Rhodesia. Their greatest Olympic achievement came in 1980 with a gold medal in women’s hockey. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Zimbabwe was represented by five athletes, including Scott Vincent, who made history as the country’s first golfer at the Olympics.
*Notable Facts for Paris 2024*
Olympic Medals: This year’s medals incorporate fragments of the Eiffel Tower, designed by Chaumet. Each medal contains iron from the landmark, symbolizing the host nation’s iconic structure.
