With the memory of coming to within a whisker of an Olympic medal still fresh in his mind, Zimbabwean sprinter Brian Dzingai has begun preparations in earnest for the London 2012 Olympics.
His exploits in Beijing helped earn him the Zimbabwe Sports person of the year accolade in 2008, and Brian knows that another great performance in London in an event featuring the fastest men in history will be all the more special.
Dzingai kicked off his journey to the London Games at the Zimfest function at the Pacific Oriental Hotel in London in early September. At the event he was interviewed by sports marketer Jimmy Saruchera of Dynamic Sports Marketing. An excerpt from the interview follows:
JS:
You’ve won 20 races in the European Athletics circuit. For those who perhaps don’t follow athletics much outside of the Olympics, tell us a little bit about what it takes to win one of these races at the very top level of the professional circuit?
Dzingai: A lot of hard work and dedication and buying into the fact that athletics is not something that I just do, but is ultimately a lifestyle. That means that every decision or move I make has either a positive or adverse effect on my career.
JS: How applicable are those attributes to every day pursuits such as business, study or even work life?
Dzingai: Effort directly correlates to success. Just as in a business, you are essentially the master of your own destiny.
JS: Tell us a little about how you got started in athletics and what keeps you motivated to continue with what must be a grueling training schedule?
Dzingai: I’ve always been a keen sportsman from a young age all the way through high school. When I applied to university in the US, I was granted a partial academic scholarship, and upon speaking to the athletics coach, was granted an athletic scholarship too which vastly reduced my tuition expenses.
That’s how I pretty much got my real start in athletics. What keeps me motivated? The challenge or quest to be amongst the best in the world. Once you get a taste of success, you don’t ever want to lose it.
JS: I’m sure you’ve been asked this a million times, but what did it feel like running in the lane next to the fastest man in history Usain Bolt? Did you feel intimidated at all?
Dzingai: I had raced Usain 3 times that year before Beijing and each time I was in the outside lane, just like in the Olympic Final. So I was by no means intimidated. If anything I was wishing if that whole experience could last a lifetime.
JS: Lets talk about London 2012,What are some of the things you’ll be doing to prepare yourself for London 2012?
Dzingai: Well the build up starts now, 2 years before the games. My training will start November 1 and will see me compete in the European Circuit next summer, World Champs in Daegu in 2011 and the All Africa Games in 2011. The aim is to be a World Championship finalist next year and use that momentum to propel me into the Olympic year.
JS: You are one of the very few athletes from Southern Africa that features at the top level of world sprinting, in fact you were the only one in that 200m final. Why do you think this was the case?
Dzingai: I can’t speak for other athletes, but I can speak about my own situation. I am blessed to have a great coach, Ken Harnden, great training group (Michael Bingham and Charles Clark), great training facilities and a great medical support team. All these people have, are and will be key to my success.
JS: So What do you think is the future of top level athletics in Zimbabwe?
Dzingai: There is hope as the talent is there, but the nurturing has to begin at the grassroots level. I hope I have created a glimmer of hope that sport can be viewed as an actual “profession”.
JS: How can those who are interested in following your progress to 2012 keep in touch, show their support or keep up to date with your progress?
Dzingai: We just launched our website www.briandzingai.com and this will be updated regularly with what’s going on with me and my schedule. You can also watch my races typically on BBC or Supersport depending on what part of the world you are in.
The Olympian will be in Zimbabwe from the 14th of September to 14th October to inspire athletes, coaches and the public. His programme will involve several events some of which are coordinated by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
These include coaching clinics for 13 – 15 year old’s at Prince Edward on the 22nd and the 29th of September between 2 and 4pm. Dzingai will also be attending the United Nations and Zimbabwe Olympic committee organised International Day of Peace Sports tournament on the 21st of September and later that day conducting an address to budding athletes and their parents at the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section in Harare.
Dzingai has also indicated that he would be willing to assist in the establishment of National Sports Structures in Zimbabwe, a project the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe is working on with the world governing body the International Association of Athletics Federation the IAAF).
More info: www.briandzingai.com
Contact: [email protected]
