I’m a dreamer, says Zim rowing coach WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER . . . Rowing coach Rachel Davis (centre in the front row) poses for a picture with her team expected to represent Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. — (Picture by Samantha Davis)
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER . . . Rowing coach Rachel Davis (centre in the front row) poses for a picture with her team expected to represent Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. — (Picture by Samantha Davis)

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER . . . Rowing coach Rachel Davis (centre in the front row) poses for a picture with her team expected to represent Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. — (Picture by Samantha Davis)

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
“I JUST think you have to believe that anything is possible, you just have to dream big it’s every cliché that you read on a poster and know that it’s true, know that all of that is true.” These are the words of rowing coach Rachel Davis as she narrates how Zimbabwe’s para-rowing team found its way to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games which are set to run from September 7 to 18.

In 2012, Davis, also the Rowing Association of Zimbabwe technical director, took Micheen Thornycroft to the Olympics in London for rowing. However, for the just-ended Olympics, Zimbabwe’s athletes were training in South Africa and Davis got a call from FISA, the world rowing motherbody, to put up a para-rowing team together to compete at a qualification regatta in Italy in April.

“So in February I received a phone call and I felt well I have got some extra time on my hands we will see how this goes and here we are, we are going to the Paralympics. “Did I think it could happen? Yes. I am a dreamer. I will definitely classify myself as a dreamer,” said Rachel.

It meant Davis had two months to prepare for the qualifying regatta and going into the competition it was always going to be difficult for Zimbabwe being their first time to compete in para-rowing.

The team is made up of Margaret Bangajena, Previous Wiri, Takudzwa Gwariro, Michelle Grant and Jessica Davis, who is the coxswain. They will compete in the para mixed coxed four. As part of their preparations and pre-requisite to compete in Rio, the team took part in the World Rowing Cup 3 in Poznan, Poland, in June.

“These guys have come out so well, so strong, so quickly that when we compete we are not floundering at the back, stopping the boat and having to restart. We don’t have to get special treatment.

“Okay we are not winning the races but we are with the pack in the first half and then the second half is when the training kicks in, the years of experience of rowing together.

“When I called the athletes to say do you want to try this, they didn’t even know what they were getting into, some of them I don’t think knew what rowing was. But they showed up because they were willing to see that there is an opportunity,” said Davis.

With less than two weeks to go before the Paralympics begin, Davis knows they are not going to fight for a medal at the Games but it will be a learning curve.

“For me what I am looking for as a coach is I would like to see the guys coming in contact with the other crews. I would want them to come down with the pack respectively, heads held high having rowed the best technical race that they can row. And I believe that that is possible.

“If we could take out one other country it would be a miracle but it will be amazing. We have to have the perfect race and if we have the perfect race we can capitalise on somebody who doesn’t have a perfect race. So if we can beat another team, wow, then we will becoming home like we are medallist.

“But from the other side what do I want to get is exposure for Zimbabwe rowing, exposure for people with disabilities in this country who are sidelined and hidden away.

“I would really like people to see what value they can bring to communities, what value they can bring to sport and I think that the exposure at the Paralympics will do that,” said Davis. The mother of three says she is grateful to her children for their support that has enabled her to get this far.

“I have got amazingly understanding kids. I couldn’t do it without the kids allowing me to also pursue this,” said Rachel. Her charges say they are looking forward to participating at the Rio Games and Gwariro, a former rugby player whose career was cut short because of an injury, believes they can hold their own.

“It’s been pretty good we have been to Italy, Poland and now we are looking forward to Rio. The preparations have been pretty good. We have been rowing together a lot and hopefully it will pay off in Rio.

“Obviously the difference is big because it’s a water sport your sense of timing has to be a lot greater because you really have to work together in the boat for everything speed, balance direction, everything,” said Gwariro.

Jessica, who was already into rowing and comes in as the coxswain, added that it has been a learning curve for and amazing experience to work with her mother.

“It’s not like going down to Mazowe every day, you go to the Paralympics and you have got the different countries there and these are professional athletes. They may be disabled but you go there and the disability doesn’t matter. It’s who you are and what you have got to bring to the table.

“It’s been lovely. I have absolutely loved it because I have learnt so much. Working with my mother that’s new experience for me but it’s been very nice I have loved to work with her,” said Davis.

Davis, who is from Canada, is a physical education teacher by profession at St George’s College. She came to Zimbabwe in 1996 on the recommendation of FISA to assist with the development of the sport.

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