Rwanda will be making its 10th consecutive appearance in Olympic Games, as the 2020 edition of the games unfolds in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8. The country made its debut participation in the games in 1984 in Los Angeles, USA, and ever since, it has participated in many Olympic competitions but no Rwandan athlete has ever been able to win a medal. With this history, team Rwanda will be heading into the games as one of the underdogs, but that does not mean that they cannot surprise the world and come home with something. Rwanda will be represented by 5 athletes, a number which is less than that of 2016 where 7 athletes turned up for the games. In this article, Times Sport looks at the various athletes that will represent Rwanda and their chances of winning medals at the 2020 Olympics. Moise Mugisha (Cycling). 2020 Grand Prix Chantal Biya champion Moise Mugisha is the only cyclist that will represent Rwanda in Tokyo. Cycling is one of the games in which Rwanda has been performing well on the continent and it is a sport that Rwandans hope for a good performance during the Olympics. It is not the first time that Rwanda is fielding cyclists at the Olympic Games, since riders like Adrien Niyonshuti and Nathan Byukusenge have featured in the competition before, although they did not win any medals. With his experience and hunger as a young rider (22-years old), Mugisha can hopefully perform well at the Olympics, and may pull a surprise but he will face serious competition from international riders. Marthe Yankurije (Half-marathon) Fresh from winning the Kigali International Peace Marathon in June, Yankurije will be heading to Tokyo to rub shoulders with the world’s best. With the presence of long-distance athletes from countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia, Yankurije will be up against formidable competition. The 27-year-old, however, says she will go into the competition with confidence and optimism, knowing that anything can happen. Eloi Maniraguha and Alphonsine Agahozo (Swimming) In swimming, Rwanda will be represented by Eloi Maniraguha in the men’s category, and Alphonsine Agahozo in the women’s category. Both Maniraguha and Agahozo participated in the previous Olympics in London, although they put up a dismal performance. As returnees to the event in 2021, they claim to have the necessary experience to perform better. John Hakizimana (middle and long distance runner) After winning a bronze medal at the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China, Hakizimana, an athlete who represents local side APR looks set to compete at a higher stage. His participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be his first experience ever in the games and will provide him with an opportunity to rate himself against the world’s elite runners. Meanwhile, Felicien Muhitira, another long distance runner will not be at the Olympics, despite having qualified for the games. This is because, last week he was expelled from camp due to indiscipline. Information from the National Olympics Committee shows that he left the camp without permission, breaking the Covid-19 preventive guidelines.
