Cyclist Jazilla Mwamikazi insists she is satisfied with her performance after becoming the first Rwandan woman to compete in the mountain bike race at the Olympic Games.
The 19-year-old achieved it at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, July 28, where she finished 34th in the 36-woman peloton during the women's 'Mountain Bike' race, which took place on Mount Élancourt.
Riding across the 30.8-mile course, which consisted of seven laps of 4.4 miles, the Ndabaga women cycling team rider finished in the 34th place in the race 10 minutes and 24 seconds behind French gold medalist Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
Pauline struck gold after clocking one hour, 26 minutes and two seconds, overcoming tough competition from American Haley Batten who emerged second to claim silver while Jenny Rissveds of Sweden won bronze after making it to the podium with a third-place finish.
It was not the position she wished for but participating in the Olympics is an experience that Mwamikazi cherishes.
"I am really happy with my performances. I thought I could not finish the race considering the quality of athletes who lined up but I am happy that I haven’t finished on bottom,” a delighted Mwamikazi said.
"This is my first Olympics as a professional athlete, and I am happy to compete at this level, this is good challenge for me for my future to the last, and to set better purpose, possibly the best of my career,” she added.
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"I thought I would come last, but I was determined to give all my best, and it worked out well for me. This is my first time to compete in the Olympic Games; it was a really good experience. But now I must start to work hard harder than ever” she added
Mwamikazi became the third Rwandan to play in the Mountain Bike category in the Olympic Games after Adrien Niyonshuti (Londres 2012) and Nathan Byukusenge (Rio 2016).
"What I have noticed is...when you prepare early, you can perform better. I will have to work hard and I hope I can post better times in future and if we can have early preparations, compete in different international competitions, and get the needed support,” she noted
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At the Paris Games, three Rwandan athletes have already competed, including Mwamikazi, Tufaha Uwihoreye who competed in Fencing, and Diane Ingabire, who played in cycling. Unfortunately, none of them managed to win a medal, a routine that Rwanda must break, sooner or later.
Another Rwandan athlete will get into action on Friday, May 2, where Oscar Peyre Mitilla Cyusa is expected to compete in the 100-meter butterfly at the Paris La Défense Arena.
Like Djazilla, Cyusa also flew to Paris 2024 via a wild card.
Italy-based long-distance runner Clementine Mukandanga is the only Rwandan athlete in the Olympic Team who qualified for the Paris 2024 Games.
She achieved the required "Minima" time of 2:26:50 at the 39 Firenze Marathon in December 2023 with a time of 2:25:54, the fourth fastest in the event&039;s history and a personal best, improving on her previous record set in Florence in 2022.
She will compete in the full marathon slated for August 11 at Hôtel de Ville and Les Invalides.
At the age of 38, she is the oldest in the Rwanda Olympic Team.