Youth games team unveiled

COUNTING DOWN . . . Team Zimbabwe members- (Standing from left) Terry Angelos, Connor Grist, Rohnan Nicholson, Tanatswa Mugwidi, (Seated in front from left) Arianna Robinson, Rachel O’Donoghue, Alexis Johnsen and Daniella Viki — pose for a picture at the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee offices in Harare.

Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub

WITH Team Zimbabwe for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games now in place, athletes have started to kick off their preparations as the build-up for the event begins.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee announced the final 11 athletes to challenge for honours at the Games yesterday at a press conference held at their offices in Harare.

The Games are being staged on the African continent for the first time from October 31 to November 13 in Senegal.

Zimbabwe will compete in athletics, cycling, judo, equestrian, rowing, triathlon, and swimming.

This is the fourth edition of the quadrennial event introduced in 2010, and Zimbabwe have participated in all the past editions.

And as they gear up for Dakar 2026 YOG, team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission Charmaine Chamboko said they are hoping for the best from the athletes.

“Well, I think the first thing, it really is a platform for learning and development, and that is absolutely what we are trying to do first.

“The Youth Olympic Games are also a platform for being able to interact and expose our athletes to other countries, competitions, and other competitors as well.

“So, I think that will be one of our main goals.

“Apart from that, we are expecting personal best performances from all of the athletes.

“Yes, while we may not be able to speak in terms of medals- how many we are expecting as we are yet to then reveal that — we expect everybody to at least perform to the best of their abilities,” said Chamboko.

Swimming with four athletes — Alexis Johnsen, Daniella Viki, Connor Grist, and Kwandokuhle Nkomazana provides the biggest chunk of athletes.

Athletics has two athletes — triple jumper Tanatswa Mugwidi and Prudence Kasuwa, who is up for discus in the women’s section.

Rowing, equestrian, triathlon, judo, and cycling provided an athlete each.

ZOC president Thabani Gonye said youth sport is vital for future success.

“As Team Zimbabwe prepares for the Games, we are reminded that youth sport is central to the future of our nation’s sporting success as the foundation to build on.

“The team is a “seed” that dovetails and is aligned to our 2026 to 2033 strategic plan, capability one, which speaks of a performance engine, that entails building a system that produces medallists through a deliberate and systematic long-term athlete development pathway, wherein members of this team will be entered into the athlete’s management system for ease of tracking and enable data-driven decisions and making processes.

“The athletes we announce here today, from the seven-member national federations, I believe would be part of or at least influence Zimbabwe’s next generation of champions,” said Gonye.

Also in attendance for the announcement was the Sports and Recreation Commission director general Allen Mavunga, ZOC chief executive Marlene Gadzirayi, and officials from the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Cul-ture, and some of the athletes’ parents.

Team Zimbabwe:

Athletics: Prudence Kasuwa, Tanatswa Mugwidi.

Cycling: Rohnan Nicholson.

Equestrian: Terry Angelos.

Judo: Makanaka Vanessa Nherera.

Swimming: Alexis Johnsen, Daniella Viki, Connor Grist, Kwandokuhle Nkomazana.

Rowing: Arianna Robinson.

Triathlon: Rachel O’Donoghue.

Coaches

Athletics: Letwin Kudakwashe.

Cycling: Elsie Mahumbe.

Equestrian: Ricky Johnstone.