The Rising Lionesses, Kenya's youth rugby team, has made history by becoming the country's first team to win a gold medal in a team sport at the Olympics. The team won the gold medal at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics, defeating Australia 17-12 in the final. The team's achievement has been hailed as exceptional by Sports PS Elijah Mwangi, who attributed their success to their hard work and determination.
The Kenyan government has pledged to reward each member of the Rising Lionesses with KSh 250,000, in line with the enhanced cash-award scheme for teams that win medals at the Youth Olympics. The reward is a significant gesture of appreciation for the team's achievement, and it is expected to motivate other young athletes to strive for excellence in their respective sports.
According to PS Mwangi, the government is committed to investing in infrastructure to provide young athletes with the required environment to grow their talents and sporting skills. He urged the Kenya Rugby Federation and other rugby stakeholders to focus on growing young talent, terming the players as prodigies. Mwangi expressed confidence that with the quality of talent demonstrated by the Rising Lionesses, they could progress and climb to the apex of world championships and other top-tier global-level competitions.
The Rising Lionesses' team captain, Zain Mohammed, said the Dakar experience was critical for their growth and exposure. She admitted that the team gave it their all and was determined to win, adding that being the first time for them to compete, they were determined to leave a mark at the world stage. Mohammed expressed her joy and pride at winning the gold medal, saying it was an honor to play for the country.
The Kenya Rugby Federation President, Harriet Aketch, said the federation would continue pursuing excellence in sports as they seek to have the national teams play at the highest level. Aketch expressed her gratitude to the government for the reward, saying it would motivate the team to work harder and achieve even greater success in the future.
The Rising Lionesses' achievement has been hailed as a significant milestone in Kenyan sports history, and it is expected to inspire other young athletes to strive for excellence. The team's success has also highlighted the importance of investing in sports infrastructure and providing young athletes with the required environment to grow their talents and sporting skills.
The government has reiterated its commitment to supporting young athletes and providing them with the necessary resources to succeed. With the Rising Lionesses' achievement, Kenya is expected to see a surge in interest in rugby and other sports, and the government is expected to continue investing in sports infrastructure to support the growth of sports in the country.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has pledged to reward the Rising Lionesses with KSh 250,000 each for winning the gold medal at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics.
