Eight Rwandan swimmers on Monday night, April 29, left the country for the 16th Absolute African Swimming and Open Water Championships which will take place from April 30 to May 5 at the Alvalade swimming pool and Mussulo Island in Luanda, Angola. The continental swimming competition will serve as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. ALSO READ: Swimming Genocide memorial tourney set for April 14 The eight Rwanda representatives--six men and two women--include Cédrick Niyibizi (Thailand), Oscar Mitilla Peyre Cyusa (France), Eric Iradukunda, Neema Nyirabyenda and Christian Byiringiro (all Cercle Sportif de Karongi), Mako Sharks duo Isihaka Irankunda and Aragsan Liban Mugabo as well as Lidwine Uwase Umuhiza of Gisenyi Beach Boys. Prior to their trip to Luanda, national swimming team head coach Jean d'Amour Kamanzi said that team is ready to make Rwanda proud. We are aware of how tough of the tournament is but we have to be ready to do well. Everyone in the team wants to do better, everyone is hungry and determined to get good results,” he said. We have reminded the athletes to give their best and make their country proud. They must therefore put everything they have into action. We look forward to the tournament and we are confident that they are going to achieve something.” The team had been training for five days at La Palisse Hotel Swimming Pool in Nyamata, where the athletes were camping, except Mitilla Peyre Oscar Cyusa and Cedric Niyibizi who live in France and Thailand respectively. While Neema Nyirabyenda and Eric Iradukunda will compete at Open Water at Mussulo Island, the rest of the swimmers will compete in the 50-metre race at Alvalade Swimming Pool.
