Kathleen Noble – Uganda’s first rower at the Olympics

By: Kamusiime Barnabas

Uganda got into action at the Tokoyo 2020 Olympic Games on Friday, 23rd July in Japan.

The first of the 25 athletes in action was rower Grace Kathleen Noble, a single scull competitor.

Noble clocked 8:21:85 in heat two of the single scull event at the Sea Forest Waterway.

Republic of Ireland’s Sanita Puspure, 39, won the heat with a timing of 7:46:08.

27-year-old Kenia Lechuga from Mexico came second with a timing of 7:54:21 as Greek woman Anneta Kyridou, 22, was third with 7:54:28.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Aisha Chow, a 44-year-old rower came fourth.

Failed to hit the mark

Joan Poh, 30, from Singapore was sixth in the heat and did not qualify.

Noble’s Uganda-based coach Rodrick Muhumuza is optimistic she will improve in the subsequent races.

“Kathleen did well to make it to the repechage. She will improve in the next races,” Muhumuza disclosed.

The next races will be held on Saturday.