The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
NATIONAL backstroke swimming record holder, Denilson Cyprianos is looking to improve his times as his career takes a new turn after earning a swimming scholarship in the United States of America. Cyprianos (18) embarked on a new journey at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee last week and is hoping to improve on his times as he nurses his Olympic dream. He will be studying finance while pursuing swimming at the institution.
The former Christian Brothers College pupil said he believes the move will give him an opportunity to participate in more meets and hopefully he will get faster with each event.
“I feel the competition at training and the experience I will gain will assist me in improving my times as I seek to get faster and qualify for more international events. It’s a huge step and all I am hoping is to get faster and faster and see how far I can take my swimming,” he said.
Cyprianos said he is excited to be under the tutelage of new coach, Jordan Taylor at Carson–Newman, whom he described as a world class coach. The Stingrays swimmer is following in the footsteps of his brothers, Andresious and Brandon, who got scholarships at Pace University (New York) and Mars Hill University (North Carolina).
The 2020 Junior Sportsperson of the Year runner up said going into a new environment, his brothers urged him to stay disciplined all the time and focus on his studies and swimming. Under the tutelage of his father, the late Edmore, Denilson has risen to become one of the top swimmers in the country and his contention of the junior sports person of the year was a sign of his swimming prowess. He has established himself as the ‘king of backstroke’ over the years and holds the open records for the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events.
Denilson, who captained Team Zimbabwe last year, in November made the three records, swimming the 200m backstroke in 1.58.49 minutes, completing the 100m backstroke in 54.92 seconds and touched the finish pad in 26.09 seconds in the 50m backstroke. He also holds the record of the 400m freestyle short course (4.06.84 minutes) which he also attained at the Bulawayo Amateur Swimming Association short course gala held in November.
