Road to Paris: Team USA to Face Massive Contention With 27YO South African Athlete Aiming for a Podium Spot

“I take a lot of pride in just sticking something out if you do choose to stop or something,” shared a 27-year-old long-distance athlete from South Africa who is a Pro runner for Adidas. Just weeks ago, this remarkable athlete made history by setting a new record in her debut marathon race.

Participating in the Johnson Crane Hire Marathon, “Ms. PB,” known for setting personal bests, finished it in 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 28 seconds, breaking the previous record by almost four minutes. Originally, she planned to stop at the 40-kilometer mark but decided to finish the full marathon distance as she was feeling good and ahead of schedule. And now satisfied with her performance in her debut marathon, she aims for the Paris Olympics in 2024, giving America massive contention.

South African eyes the Road to Paris

In an interview with SABC News, 27-year-old Cian Oldknow sat down to discuss her journey, injuries and resilience, and her plans for the Olympic year 2024. Recounting her debut marathon experience just two weeks prior at the Johnson Crane event, Oldknow expressed her ambition to compete in a Paris 2024 qualifier next week, emphasizing that the Olympics represent the ultimate dream for every athlete. A moment stood out when the interviewer asked, “When you visualize your success when it comes to the Paris Olympics, what goes through your mind?”

To which Cian Oldknow replied, “I picture myself there in South African kit. Um, I picture the Eiffel Tower ’cause it’s in Paris, and kind of just see myself running that race,” noting her contention to compete at the pinnacle games, giving America a formidable challenge. And now, as she aims for Paris, let us look at her first step on the road to Paris.

Cian Oldknow aims for 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in Spain

Considered one of the flattest and fastest marathons in Europe, the Zurich-Seville Marathon, which has been held annually in Seville, Spain, since 1985, will see a major showdown this year. The Seville Marathon 2024 is scheduled for February 18, 2024, with a distance of 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles), with the start and finish line in Paseo de las Delicias.

Read more: On His Way to Break Usain Bolt’s Record, Noah Lyles Names His First 2024 Obstacle Before Olympics

The race is a pivotal stepping stone, as it is not only an IAAF Gold Label Road Race but is also a qualifying race for the Olympic Games and World Championships. Cian Oldknow who is set to run at the 2024 Zurich-Seville Marathon, also noted in the SABC News interview, “At the moment, the qualifying race is a little bit more important, so that’s, like, my biggest visualization.” As Oldknow now gears up to achieve this goal on her road to Paris, fans eagerly anticipate her performance not only in Seville but also at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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