MADAGASCAR - OLYMPICS 2012: Two of Madagascar's four athletes representing the country at the 2012 London Olympics train on home ground, in the last push before the summer games.

Record ID: 330780

  • Title: MADAGASCAR - OLYMPICS 2012: Two of Madagascar's four athletes representing the country at the 2012 London Olympics train on home ground, in the last push before the summer games.
  • Date: 1st June 2012
  • Summary: ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR (RECENT) (REUTERS) WRESTLERS FEET DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF PATRICIA JOSIANE SOLONIAINA, MALAGASY CHAMPION WRESTLER TRAINING WITH HER HUSBAND SOLONIAINA TRAINING WITH FELLOW WRESTLER MORE OF SOLONIAINA TRAINING WITH HER HUSBAND (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) PATRICIA JOSIANE SOLONIAINA, MALAGASY CHAMPION WRESTLER SAYING: "I am very happy because going to the Olympic Games has always been a dream of mine. I have already participated in quite a few international competitions, where I had good results, like the two African Championships, the Islands Games, and at the World Championship. But this one (Olympic Games) will sum it all up, because I am realizing my life long dream and I am very excited about it. At the moment, I am preparing so that I can improve my performance and my goal is to go up to the Olympic podium." VARIOUS OF SOLONIAINA TRAINING BY LIFTING HER HUSBAND MORE OF WRESTLERS PRACTICING VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SPORTS AND CULTURE BUILDING VARIOUS OF MALAGASY JUDOKA CHAMPION FETRA RATSIMIZIVA AND HIS TEAM TRAINING INSIDE SPORTS AND CULTURE BUILDING RATSIMIZIVA TALKING TO HIS TRAINER MORE OF RATSIMIZIVA TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FETRA RATSIMIZIVA, MALAGASY JUDOKA CHAMPION SAYING: "In all honesty, I hope to go as far as possible during the games. It's very difficult, I am not saying that it's not doable or that it's impossible, but at my level, although I am qualified, I am not too confident about position. All the other competitors have been preparing for the games for the last four years and I have only started practicing in January. You have to be practical. But I will do my best to go as far as possible in the competition." RATSIMIZIVA TRAINING WITH HIS TEAM
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Madagascar
  • Country: Madagascar
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Q05MWWE569COFWB1PHYQMUC5
  • Story Text: Malagasy champion wrestler, Patricia Josiane Soloniaina is a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling ring, tackling and lifting fellow wrestlers, most of them men.
    Soloniaina is the latest Malagasy athlete to qualify for the upcoming London Olympics, alongside fellow country women Rabetsara Fils Estellah and Mamitiana Ramanantsoa, competing in swimming, and Feta Rastimiziva, competing in judo.
    In her bid to win gold, Soloniana who will compete in the under 72kg women category, follows a rigorous training program. She trains with her husband, a fellow wrestler who is not shy to put her through her paces, no matter how physically demanding it may be.
    Soloniana has already made history by becoming the first Malagasy female to compete in the wrestling category. But the mother of two is determined to reach for the highest honour at the Summer Games, and add to a number of trophies and medals already under her belt.
    "I am very happy because going to the Olympic Games has always been a dream of mine. I have already participated in quite a few international competitions, where I had good results, like the two African Championships, the Islands Games, and at the World Championship. But this one (Olympic Games) will sum it all up, because I am realizing my life long dream and I am very excited about it. At the moment, I am preparing so that I can improve my performance and my goal is to go up to the Olympic podium," she said.
    For judoka Ratsimiziva, who was the first Malagasy to qualify for the London Games, the pressure is mounting as the date of the Olympics approaches.
    Ratsimiziva is set to compete in the under 81kg category.
    Although the seasoned athlete has been Madagascar's Judoka Champion for the last three years in a row, and a bronze medalist at the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo in 2011, the 20-year-old says he is not taking anything for granted and continues to train hard to prepare.
    "In all honesty, I hope to go as far as possible during the games. It's very difficult, I am not saying that it's not doable or that it's impossible, but at my level, although I am qualified, I am not too confident about position. All the other competitors have been preparing for the games for the last four years and I have only started practicing in January. You have to be practical. But I will do my best to go as far as possible in the competition," he said.
    Ratsimiziva, who is based in Toulouse, France where he is also pursuing his studies, added that training on homegrown has given him renewed confidence and pride in representing his country.
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