Grace Chirumanzu has every reason to smile after she managed to scoop the Outstanding Sportswoman of the year award at the recently held Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards (ZIWA).
This was a well-deserved win after a successful year as a karateka that saw her bringing home a bronze medal at the 5th International Kyokushin Cup in Scotland last April.
She revealed she was elated by her achievement.
“I feel honored to have my achievements acknowledged. The journey to success is usually visible when one wins medals but the invisible hard work behind it takes years. I am a better person than l was and I aim to keep improving every year,” she said.
Chirumanzu went on to reveal that there are a lot of people behind her success story.
“In terms of the whole story behind me starting to train in karate and developing a fighting spirit, Shihan Samson Muripo has been of great influence. He is a man of few words but his actions have great impact to those who believe in him,” she said.
She added that her husband has been a pillar of strength in her journey to this year’s accomplishment.
“My husband has been great, it’s because of his amazing support that the emotional and physical pain from loses don’t last long as l pick myself and fight again.”
Chirumanzu said she is now looking forward to her future which will be focused on empowering women and girls in sport.
“I have had an experience of being an athlete and l understand the challenges female athletes face and most of the solutions come from knowing the problem and coming together as women to challenge them,” she said.
