Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SWIMMING coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole says the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are a stepping stone to the bigger stage for the young athletes that will be part of the multi-sport showpiece in Senegal.
The Games’ official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, and will run until November 13, with around 2 700 young athletes participating.
Tudor-Cole is in charge of Team Zimbabwe’s swimmers — Alexis Johnsen, Connor Grist, Kwandokuhle Nkomazana and Daniella Viki.
The swimmers are scheduled to leave for Dakar on Thursday.
“Look, this is the biggest competition that they would have ever done, all of them. And they are young.
“I think we are just going to go there. We are going to do our absolute best, hope for personal bests, see what is out there and experience, just to see for them what they need to do when we come back home.
“Some of them have got dreams to go to LA28 and more than Brisbane 2032 (Olympic Games). So, I think this is a real stepping stone in that journey.
“So, I am hoping that we learn a lot, we grow and we come back a lot stronger,” said Tudor-Cole.
All the four swimmers were part of Team Zimbabwe at the African Youth Games last December in Angola, where Johnsen claimed three individual medals including a gold medal in the 50m freestyle.
And she is competing in same event at the YOG.
She also got bronze in the 100m and 200m freestyle. Johnsen was also part of the girls 4x100m freestyle relay team that got silver.
Nkomazana was part of the boys 4x100m medley relay team that claimed bronze, and he is up for the men’s 50m butterfly.
Viki will compete in the women’s 800m freestyle while Connor goes for the men’s 400m freestyle.
As they head to Senegal, Tudor-Cole said they have had to balance between the training sessions and examinations.
“I think everyone has had a lot to deal with, their O-Levels.
“They are in the middle of writing exams, but we have handled it really well and we are looking really good.
“I just hope that our final few days all go according to plan, we travel well, and I really believe that they have got every opportunity to do their very best.”
As part of their preparations, they also had a week-long camp at a High-Performance Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.
Some of them went on to compete at the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships in September, intensifying the preparations.
“It’s been amazing. I mean, a lot of support from ZOC (Zimbabwe Olympic Committee) and a lot of support from, I think, the sponsors CBZ and then we had a great training camp at Tuks University.
“That was brilliant. That inspired the kids. There has been a little bit of pressure, but this week feels a lot better.
“I think, as we are getting closer, the athletes are starting to get very excited,” added Tudor-Cole.
Johnsen, who is one of Team Zimbabwe’s flag bearers admitted it has not easy preparing for the Games but is excited to represent the country.
“The preparations have been fairly difficult. My coach pushes us every single day to our max and hope that it pays off.
“My coach has been a lot of help with all of this, being by our side with everything,” said Johnsen.
“Being a flag bearer means so much to me. I am so honoured to wear my country’s colours on a world stage and I am just so honoured.
“I definitely didn’t expect it, but I am just so happy.
“I just really want to go there, have fun, meet new people and just do the best that I can possibly do and see where I can go,” Johnsen said.
Team Zimbabwe is made up of 12 athletes that will compete in athletics, cycling, equestrian, judo, rowing, swimming and triathlon.
