Four swimmers have been selected to represent Rwanda at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Senegal from October 13 to November 13. Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the multi-sport event brings together athletes aged under 18 from around the world. Rwanda will be making its fourth appearance at the Youth Olympic Games. ALSO READ: ‘Africa Is ready’: Rwandan minister makes case for Olympic Games hosting rights The swimmers selected are Kean Murenzi Sheja, Jayden Ntwali, Liban Aragasan Mugabo, and Keza Kalisa. Swimming will have the largest representation in Rwanda's delegation. The country will also field one athlete in taekwondo, one in athletics, two in cycling, and one in wushu, bringing the provisional squad to nine athletes. Jean Claude Rugigana, Executive Director of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), told Times Sport that the committee is working closely with national sports federations to finalise the delegation, which will comprise nine athletes, including five females. Rugigana explained that the athlete selection process for Dakar 2026 differs from previous editions. This edition of the Youth Olympic Games is unique because there were no qualification tournaments. Instead, each international federation was allocated quotas, which were then distributed to national federations based on their development level and other criteria, he said. He added that the final delegation will also include coaches and officials, with preparations already underway to ensure Team Rwanda is ready for the continental showpiece. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil, marking a historic milestone for the continent and offering young athletes a global platform to showcase their talent.
