SCHWEPPES Zimbabwe are basking in the glory of a successful 12th edition as the title sponsor of the annual Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck, which concluded this past weekend in Eastern Highlands.
Despite biting cold and wet weather, the event ran smoothly, showcasing fierce competition and resilience.
The 2026 edition marked a milestone for Schweppes, underscoring its commitment to growing endurance sports in the region. Key partners—African Sun, CFAO Motors, Cimas, EcoCash, and Rooneys—played a pivotal role in the event’s success.
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At Saturday night’s awards, where athletes and officials celebrated the day’s gruelling races, Stanley Muchenje, managing director of Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited, expressed pride in the brand’s long-standing partnership with Triathlon Zimbabwe.
“Tonight, we celebrate the success of the 2026 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and multi-sport festival, while also marking an important milestone. It’s been 12 consecutive years of Bonaqua proudly sponsoring this event,” he said.
“Over the past decades, our partnership has helped grow triathlon into one of the most respected endurance competitions on the African continent. It has inspired new athletes, encouraged young people to embrace sport, and placed Zimbabwe firmly on the international triathlon map.”
Muchenje highlighted that the event has grown into a full-fledged multi-sport festival, while the launch of Powerade in Zimbabwe further strengthens Schweppes’ presence in sports hydration. lauded the tournament’s international stature, with athletes from Austria, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Mauritius taking part. She noted that the event aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2, using sport to drive economic growth and global engagement.
“Each international athlete becomes an ambassador who experiences firsthand the warmth of our people and the beauty of our landscapes,” she said.
While Germany’s Lasse Lührs and Jule Behrens dominated the Elite Men’s and Women’s categories, respectively, Zimbabwean athletes held their own in the treacherous conditions.
The highlight for the home crowd was 15-year-old Rachel O’Donoghue, who made a stunning elite debut. Originally slated for the Junior Cup, O’Donoghue moved up to the Elite Women’s field and secured a historic bronze medal.
“The weather was tough, and the bike route was quite slippery, but overall I quite enjoyed it,” O’Donoghue remarked.
In the Junior Men’s Africa Triathlon Cup, Zimbabwe claimed a dominant 1-2 finish. Zander Botha took the gold medal, followed by compatriot Callum Smith. Botha, who handled the wet bike leg with maturity, noted, “This victory means I know I can compete against international athletes… it helps my confidence to represent my country.”-newda
