Until Rwanda gets serious about its Olympic programme, the country will never produce a medalist. For Nathan Byukusenge's training, Team Rwanda received $3,500 and two plane tickets over 4 years for his training. We raised money in the US to pay for his race bike and SCOTT gave us the bike at a steep discount.
Editor,
RE: "Schurter wins 2016 Olympic mountain bike race as Byukusenge disappoints” (The New Times, August 22).
Until Rwanda gets serious about its Olympic programme, the country will never produce a medalist.
For Nathan Byukusenge's training, Team Rwanda received $3,500 and two plane tickets over 4 years for his training. We raised money in the US to pay for his race bike and SCOTT gave us the bike at a steep discount.
To produce medalists takes a 10 to 20-year commitment to invest in sports; the country has a chance to win it big in such sports disciplines as cycling. But it will not happen in Tokyo either.
If we started today, we may be able to have a medalist by 2024 but the financial commitment and long-term planning is the key. This is why Team GB performed superbly in Rio. It is no accident, it is planning, finances and good training.
Kimberly Moszyk Coats