Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the countdown to the Youth Olympic Games continues, swimming coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole says the event is key for exposure for the young athletes.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee this week announced an 11-member team that will represent the country at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The Games are due to take place from October 31 to November 13.
Zimbabwe will compete in athletics, cycling, equestrian, judo, rowing, swimming and triathlon.
Swimming has the biggest number of athletes with four swimmers – Alexis Johnsen, Daniella Viki, Connor Grist and Kwandokuhle Nkomazana making Team Zimbabwe.
“I think it’s such a big exposure for these athletes, especially the youth ones, so we are very excited.
“We have got a bit of time now to really get ready. I think this announcement is going to really encourage them now and hopefully inspire them.
“We are going to be going down to South Africa to do some training camps. We have already been working hard.
“I mean, the whole of last season we have been working towards this, so it’s just backing onto that and trying to just keep going and we will have them as prepared as we possibly can.”
All the four swimmers participated at last year’s African Youth Games in Angola, which was also a platform for most African countries to identify their potential athletes for the YOG.
The seasoned coach added that as they look forward to competing on a bigger stage, they need to ensure their athletes are mentally ready for the competition.
“This is now on the world circuit, we have got a big step up now . . . Ideally we are just going to be looking for personal best times, trying to make sure that everybody goes there and does their personal best and hopefully we will see where that takes us.
“But we realise the competition we are up against as well, that it’s a big step up from what they have competed in,” said Tudor-Cole.
Before the YOG, they will have a chance to gauge themselves when they take part at the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships in September, in Botswana.
“We have come out of the winter season, so we haven’t been racing for a couple of months. It’s going to be a great opportunity to have some time to go and get under race conditions prior to Dakar.”
Johnsen, a gold medallist at the African Youth Games in the women’s 50m freestyle, is delighted to be part of the Games being held on African soil for the first time.
She is competing in the same event in Dakar.
“I am super happy to be a part of Team Zimbabwe and raise the flag high, and it’s such an achievement for Africa, for it to be held here for the very first time.
“I am super happy that it’s my first time, and Africa’s first time,” said Johnsen. “I am really happy that the event that I did win gold in, is the one I am swimming in Dakar. I am super happy about that, and I am training really hard to get there,” said Johnsen.
Grist is expected to compete in the men’s 400m freestyle, and he said; “This tour is like a symbol of my hard work, and it’s one of many goals that I achieved. It’s part of the goals that I have going forward, in terms of my swimming career.
“I am really happy to make the team.”
