Preparations are intensifying for the 2026 Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup and Multisport Festival, as Zimbabwe positions itself once again at the center of African endurance sport and sports tourism.
The annual competition, set for March 14 at Troutbeck Resort in the Eastern Highlands, marks the 12th consecutive year of sponsorship by Bonaqua.
Over that period, organizers say the event has evolved from a niche race into one of the continent’s recognized triathlon fixtures, drawing elite competitors pursuing Olympic qualification points alongside amateur and youth athletes.
Sanctioned by Africa Triathlon and World Triathlon, the Africa Cup race awards world-ranking points, giving Zimbabwe a rare place on the international qualification circuit.
That status has helped elevate the country’s profile as a destination for competitive sport, while expanding local participation in triathlon.
This year’s edition broadens its reach further through the accompanying Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival, a multi-discipline program designed to engage athletes across levels and age groups.
The schedule includes the African Cross-Triathlon Championship, national championships, corporate team challenges and youth events, alongside aquathlon and open-water swim races.
Organizers say the expanded format reflects a deliberate shift toward inclusivity and community participation, alongside continued support for elite performance.
Preparations include additional race categories and strengthened athlete safety and wellness protocols, according to officials who spoke at a Harare media briefing.
The event also highlights the commercial dynamics shaping endurance sport.
Schweppes Zimbabwe is introducing the Powerade sports drink to the local market through the triathlon partnership, positioning it alongside Bonaqua within what the company describes as a performance-focused hydration portfolio for athletes.
For Triathlon Zimbabwe, the federation overseeing the sport, long-term corporate backing has been central to the discipline’s development in the country.
Officials say sustained sponsorship has supported athlete pathways, widened public awareness and helped establish Zimbabwe on the continental triathlon calendar.
The race itself follows the classic Olympic-distance triathlon format: a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer cycle and 10-kilometer run, contested continuously and in that order.
Beyond competition, the Troutbeck setting in the Eastern Highlands has become part of the event’s appeal, combining high-performance sport with destination tourism.
Organizers view that blend as key to the triathlon’s future growth and to Zimbabwe’s broader ambition of hosting internationally recognized sporting events.
With entries expected from across Africa and beyond, the 2026 edition aims to reinforce that trajectory, linking grassroots participation with elite pathways and positioning endurance sport as a catalyst for tourism and economic activity.
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