When Tapiwanashe Makarawu crossed the finish line in the men’s 200m final at the World Championships in Tokyo last month, securing 7th place in the world, it marked yet another proud moment for Zimbabwean athletics. For Makarawu, it was more than just a ranking. In an interview with Zim Now, he said, “It’s something that I’m grateful for, it’s something that I will always thank God for—He’s the one who started it and He’s the one again who will finish it. So it really really means a lot to me.”
This was not the first time the 25-year-old sprinter has graced the global stage. Just last year, at the Paris Olympics, Makarawu stormed into the men’s 200m final, finishing 6th. His back-to-back appearances among the world’s best sprinters cement his status as one of Zimbabwe’s brightest hopes in athletics, alongside fellow 200m finalist Makanakaishe Charamba.
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Their rise comes at a time when Southern Africa is making waves in world sprinting. Botswana, Zimbabwe’s neighbor, has set new records of its own—Letsile Tebogo becoming the first African to win Olympic gold in the men’s 200m, and the Botswana 4x400m team rewriting history as Africa’s first world champions in the event. Zimbabwe now finds itself sharing that global stage of recognition, with Makarawu and Charamba carrying the nation’s flag in the fiercely competitive 200m.
Recognition of Makarawu’s achievements extends far beyond the track. In Hobbs, New Mexico, where he trained and studied, September 3rd has officially been declared Tapiwanashe Makarawu Day—an honor commemorating his Olympic final appearance and 6th-place finish in Paris. The gesture is a powerful symbol of how his journey is inspiring not only his home country but also communities abroad.
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