Tafatatha dumps world tourney for Olympics qualifier
Top swimmer Joyce Tafatatha will not be part of Malawi’s squad for the 16th Federation Internationale de Natation (Fina) World Championships in Russia between July 24 and August 9 as she has opted to travel to Spain for Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers from July 23 to 27.
Tafatatha, who is in the country after sitting for her International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE) examinations in the Netherlands, was scheduled to represent Malawi in Russia alongside Amara Pinto, Tayamika Chang’anamuno and Brave Lifa, but she told The Nation on Tuesday that she will be comfortable to travel to Spain.
“The Olympics is a bigger and a more competitive event than the World Championships, where contestants are more interested in winning positions rather than improving their records,” she said.
“At present, I want to move forward; I do not want to just win an event, but enhance my finishing time as well. I will be able to achieve all this at the Olympics qualifiers where competition is very stiff.”
At the Olympics qualifiers, the 16-year-old swimmer, who is undergoing intensive training at St. Andrew’s International High School, is expected to contest in 50 metres (m) free-style, 50m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke.
Tafatatha, who earned the Olympics qualifiers’ slot after emerging as Under-16 top seed during the National Championships in the Netherlands, also planned to take part in the 50m butterfly category but she has skipped it because that event will be conducted at the same time as the 50m freestyle.
