By Usher Komugisha, AIPS Young Reporter
KIGALI, April 13, 2012 – Currently preparing for the Africa mountain bike championships next month in Mauritius, a 1994 Genocide survivor Adrien Niyonshuti has his focus on the prestigious Olympics due July 27-August 12 in London.
The 25-year-old survivor of the horrific incident that shocked the world 18 years ago and saw over one million Rwandans killed in 100 days is the first Rwandan to qualify for the mountain bike cycling category.
Despite his heartrending childhood losing six siblings in the Genocide, Niyonshuti has a big dream – to finish among the top 20 at the London showpiece and just like any other Olympian-to-be is training hard to improve on his fitness levels as well as the braking, cornering, climbing and descending skills among others that are called for in this particular race.
Featuring for the MTN Qhubeka team in South Africa, Niyonshuti partnered with Jacques Janse Van Rensburg for the annual Cape Pioneer Trek last November where they did well and at the just concluded Absa Cape Epic tournament.
“I am so excited about qualifying for the Olympics and am preparing very well. It will not be easy but Rensburg and I want to be among the top five Africans and this motivates us every day,” explained the calm Niyonshuti.
Featuring for the MTN Qhubeka team in South Africa, Niyonshuti partnered with Jacques Janse Van Rensburg for the annual Cape Pioneer Trek last November where they did well and at the just concluded Absa Cape Epic tournament.
“I am so excited about qualifying for the Olympics and am preparing very well. It will not be easy but Rensburg and I want to be among the top five Africans and this motivates us every day,” explained the calm Niyonshuti.
The duo will compete in all UCI World Cup events including the upcoming editions like the ones at Houffalize in Belgium, Nove Mesto Na Morave in Czech Republic and La Bresse in France in preparation for London.
The fourth Rwandan cyclist to go to the Olympics, Niyonshuti admits that it will be challenging but with the experience he has gained over the past six years he is contented that the hard work will pay off.
Twenty years ago the trio of Faustin Mparabanyi, Alphonse Nshimiyiama and Emmanuel Nkurunziza represented Rwanda in the men’s individual road race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but did not make it in the medal brackets.
Mparabanyi, a 43 year old father of two children who currently lives in Kigali coached Niyonshuti at the 2006 U-20 regional championships in Nairobi, Kenya as well as the 2007 All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria and believes the youngster can make it among the top 20.
“I will personally pay for my own ticket to London and make sure I offer all the support I can to Niyonshuti. As Rwandans, we are so happy that he qualified and we shall support him. We are proud of him,” explained an excited Mparabanyi.
Niyonshuti won two third place positions in mountain bike places in 2009 and in 2010 he won three mountain bike races as well as the Tour of Rwanda. He also won the 2011 Tour de Kigali.
