AFRICA Junior Triathlon champion Kira Ribbink added another gold medal after coming first in her race at the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union Cup in the magnificent resort in Nyanga yesterday.
The 17-year-old, racing in only her first-ever triathlon without her sister Kayla who is now at an American University on scholarship, defied odds by coming home first to a wide round of applause from the receptive home fans.
Last year she took the gold medal, her sister Kayla came second in that event.
She said she was jittery heading into the race this afternoon.
“Oooh, I was really nervous. I don’t normally get nervous before the race. I’m normally a very calm person, very calm and collected. I think that’s why I always manage to pull through the race. But this time, I was really nervous,” Ribbink told EnterSportNews.
“I think I was nervous because I usually race with my older sister. She recently moved to America, so this was my first ever race without her. I’m really proud of myself. It was my first race back since my champion title in Egypt in July, so I’m very proud of myself, and it was a great race.
“Zim is a beautiful country, the water was perfect, the bike is very hilly, super-tough bike, but overall it was a good preparation for my next race in two weeks.”
Ribbink was out for two months prior to the Africa championships in Egypt as she battled ill health. She said she fainted each time she tried to exercise and could not go to school in as many months.
Coming back to today’s race, she credits her run as the most crucial part of the competition that delivered the gold medal.
“I definitely think that my run has improved. It’s something that I have been working on for months because the run is the last discipline, so you can never be too good on the run. There’s always room for improvement on the run,” she said.
“I think my weakness in this race was definitely the bike. Swim I came out top three, the bike I managed to keep my lead and the run, I just gave my all, so I think my run was definitely the reason why the gap was closed a bit.”
After two consecutive gold medal wins at Troutbeck as a junior woman, Ribbink said it’s time she moves over to the elites.
“I’m a bit disappointed with my cycle because I felt like I was just very tired on the bike. I wish I could give more on the bike, but unfortunately, that’s how racing goes. Somedays, you don’t do so well in one discipline, and other days, you do so well in that discipline,” Ribbink said.
“I’m a bit disappointed with my bike, but I’m happy with my run, extremely happy. I just really wanted to improve on my run because I have been very focused on my run lately. In America, it normally comes down to the run, so I’m very proud with the run.”
Ribbink finished third overall ahead of Zimbabwe elite women representative Greer Wynn who was just a place behind.
“I’m super chuffed. I mean, she’s (Wynn) a great competitor; I’m sure she’s been racing for a long time. I was definitely planning to give all the elite a run for their money. I think I did do that in the swim a bit and maybe on the run. I think I put them a bit under pressure on the run but very proud of myself,” she said.
“I’m happy to say that next time I come to Troutbeck, I’m gonna enter for elites and see what I can do as an elite.”
