THE death of Japanese triathlete Tsudoi Miyazaki in a tragic accident in France on Wednesday has shocked the international triathlon community, including Zimbabwe, who had the pleasure of hosting her and other athletes at Troutbeck in April.
Hers is an Olympic dream shattered, and the whole country was solidly behind her anticipating that she would be able to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Still, a car knocked her down during training in France in the blink of an eye.
Miyazaki had done well to fulfil part of her Olympics dream when she lined up against five other ladies in the Elite Women event and finished in fourth place during the April Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup at the Resort Town of Nyanga here in Zimbabwe.
The former Japan U23 Triathlon Champion had a good swim exiting the open water in third position but found the hilly Bike and run course tough, sliding back to sixth and fifth place respectively and eventually finishing fourth as she consolidated her gains in the swim.
That race was won by Ivana Kuriackova of Slovakia, with the South African duo of Shanae Williams and Hannah Newman completing the podium finishes in second and third place, respectively.
Zimbabwe’s own Elite Woman representative Greer Wynn shrugging off her age at 46, finished behind Miyazaki in fifth in her last international triathlon race for Zimbabwe, while Mauritian Julie Staub came in sixth place.
Wynn poured her heartfelt grief on the tragic death describing Miyazaki as a focussed athlete who worked hard to achieve her set goals.
“I can’t believe this. It is a total shock to me, unfortunate indeed. Tsudoi had a brilliant race at Troutbeck in April this year, and she was a star athlete. So sorry for this news, very tragic indeed,” Wynn told EnterSPortNews.
“I chatted to her the day before the race. She was shy and reserved but seemed very sweet and focused on her race the following day.”
Triathlon Zimbabwe Coach Pam Fulton was at a loss of words.
“It is very sad and something all triathletes are concerned about whenever training. She raced at Troutbeck, but I did not meet her as I was focused on the junior athletes,” said Fulton.
Former African Junior Woman Triathlete Kira Ribbink from South Africa, who won back-to-back gold medals at Troutbeck in 2020 and 2021, also paid her condolences.
“That’s terrible news. I send my condolences to her family and friends for this tragedy in their life,” Ribbink told EnterSportNews.
Miyazaki was born in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
