Curro Nelspruit pupil reigns supreme at world biathle champs

He did it. Gerrit Kroon, a grade four pupil of Curro Nelspruit, on Saturday returned from the US where he had represented the province at the World Biathle Championships in the u/11 boys category victorious.

Also read: Gerrit Kroon (11) to represent province at Biathle World Champs

He qualified at three events held between February and March in a sport that was only introduced to the Lowveld this year.

“We saw high levels of skill, dedication and commitment across all age categories – and not just from the countries with established development programmes,” said UIPM’s executive board member for sport, Janusz Peciak.

More than 420 athletes from 33 countries took part in biathle (run-swim-run) and triathle (swim-run-shoot) from October 24 to 27. Competing on the Florida beach were participants with an age span of more than 60 years. The age categories in biathle ranged from u/9 to masters 70 and older.

Following the events mentioned, Gerrit qualified for the Mpumalanga championships. During this, 33 athletes were selected to represent Mpumalanga at the South African National event held in Durban in June 2019. Here he participated in the nail-biting u/11 boys’ race, and finished second overall with only a few seconds separating him and the winner.

Also read: Curro shines at SA Biathlon Champs

His time was also within the 10 per cent of the 2018 u/11 World Championship winner’s time. He was therefore awarded his SA colours and the opportunity to participate in the Biathle World Championships, where he took the spoils. He did so by completing the u/11 male 400-metre run, followed by a 50-metre swim in the ocean, and another 400-metre leg on foot in a time of four minutes and 25 seconds – edging out the runner-up, Omar Abd el Fattah, by more than a second.
In third place was Muhammet Emir Kurtulan from Turkey, in a time of 04:28.

At the South African National event held in Durban in June, Gerrit struggled with the transition from barefoot to putting on his shoes after he had just come out of the water.

This time, however, hard work and training culminated into a quick transition that can be said to support his win. His mother said that they were shocked by his win, expecting a top ten finish. “We are both surprised and grateful,” she said.

“The Mpumalanga Modern Pentathlon Association would hereby like to congratulate Gerrit on his achievement. We are proud of the result that this young, upcoming athlete produced,” said chairman, Frans Mentz.

According to his coach, Karlien van Heerden, he has trained hard and was focused going into the race. “We as a school are incredibly proud of you and your hard work, concentration and perseverance,” the school said. “Biathle plays a vital role in giving young athletes an entry point to UIPM sports and a chance to develop their multi-sport abilities,” Peciak concluded.

Mbombela met the selection criteria and will be hosting the Biathle and Triathle SA Championships in June 2020.

Athletes can contact Magdel Terblanche at nspbiathle@gmail.com should they wish to take part in the sport.