Paris 2024 Olympic games are underway following a spectacular grand opening ceremony yesterday along the River Seine of Paris in France which was further spiced by performances from iconic singers such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and many more others.
Malawi is one of the many countries that made its Olympic debut yet again after its debut at Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. As it stands, Malawi hopes in the pool are on the shoulders of 3 athletes; Tayamika Changanamuno (Swimmer), Felipe Gomes(Swimmer) and Temwa Simwaka(Sprinter).
Out of the 3 Malawian flagbearers, high hopes are much on Tayamika Changanamuno and Felipe Gomes as they have been training, competing and residing overseas.
To begin with Tayamika Changanamuno, she is a professional swimmer who has been training on a four-year scholarship in Budapest, Hungary. The 24 years old athlete is set to compete in the Women’s 50 meters Freestyle on the 3rd of August.
On the other hand, is Felipe Gomes, an outstanding professional swimmer who is based in Portugal but is a bearer of the Malawian flag as he was born and bred in Blantyre. He was ranked number 47 in the Men’s 50meter Freestyle at the last Tokyo Olympic games in 2021. Furthermore, prior to the Paris Olympic games, he was ranked number 35 in a 200meters Individual Medley Relay 2024 at World Championships in Qatar.
Lastly, its Asimenye Simwaka, a soldier by professional but also a footballer who plays for Malawi National women’s team which won the COSAFA’s Women’s Championship final in 2023. She made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2021 where she advanced from the preliminary rounds to the heats of the 100m. Simwaka is also the 2024 African Championships bronze medallist, finishing 6th with a record of 11m 35 seconds in the 100m run and 22.91 in the 200m run.
Currently, Malawi has never won a gold medal at the Olympics ever since but maybe this year tables might turn and hopefully bring a gold medal home.