• OLYMPICS

• Frank Rotich 8 days ago

Team Kenya banks on expanded squad to make history at Dakar Youth Olympics

Team Kenya is targeting more than medals at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, with a record 53 athletes set to compete in 13 sporting disciplines as the country seeks to expand its talent base beyond traditional strengths in athletics.

The Kenyan delegation will be the second-largest at the Games after hosts Senegal, marking a significant increase from the 18 athletes Kenya has previously fielded at the Youth Olympics.

The competition will run from October 31 to November 13 in Senegal, bringing together approximately 2,700 athletes aged 17 and below from 206 National Olympic Committees.

Team Kenya Chef de Mission Angela Luchivya says preparations have entered their final phase, with the athletes expected to assemble for a residential training camp in Mombasa before travelling to Senegal.

 “From today, 15 days to go, it is all systems go. We are ready, and the journey begins,” said Luchivya during a team briefing.

The expanded squad reflects Kenya's ambition to develop emerging talent across a wider range of sports, while using the international competition as a platform to prepare young athletes for future senior-level championships.

Kenya will compete in athletics, rugby sevens, baseball five, basketball three-on-three, swimming, road cycling, boxing, fencing, judo, wushu, beach handball, beach wrestling and triathlon.

Several teams have already gained international exposure ahead of the Games. The basketball three-on-three squad trained in Senegal from October 6 to 9, while the rugby sevens team is in Tunisia. Baseball five recently returned from a preparatory tournament in Botswana, with beach wrestling scheduled to train in Mauritius.

Luchivya says the team hopes to improve its medal tally while laying the groundwork for sustained success in disciplines where Kenya has traditionally had limited representation.

Women will form the majority of the delegation, with 42 female athletes accounting for approximately 79 per cent of the team, highlighting the growing role of young women in competitive sport.

Away from the competition, Team Kenya's management has prioritised athlete welfare, with medical personnel, physiotherapy services, mental health support and safeguarding officers lined up to support the young competitors.

Chief Executive Officer Kerubo Momanyi says logistical arrangements covering accommodation, transport, competition kits and medical supplies have been coordinated to ensure the delegation is adequately prepared.

The team is also working with the Kenyan Embassy in Senegal to provide familiar foods, including maize flour and traditional vegetables, to help athletes adapt to their new environment.

Education has also been factored into the preparations, with team officials engaging schools and the Ministry of Education to arrange special examinations for athletes who miss their scheduled papers while representing the country.

Anti-doping education will also form part of the team's preparations, reinforcing the importance of fair competition among the young athletes.

The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will provide Kenya with an opportunity to assess its emerging talent and build a stronger foundation for future international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2032 edition in Brisbane.

For Kenya, the challenge will be to turn its increased representation into competitive success while ensuring the experience helps shape the next generation of Olympic athletes.