Mali's swimmer Younoussa Maïga will begin his competition at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar today at the Olympic Pool of the Tour de l'Œuf Complex. He will participate in the 100m freestyle event, swimming in lane 7 of the second series at 10:30 am. A total of 10 series will take place between 10:27 am and 10:53 am. The top 8 swimmers with the fastest times will qualify for the final, scheduled for 3:03 pm.
Maïga's competition schedule for Wednesday, November 4, includes the 50m freestyle event at 10:24 am and the 50m butterfly event at 11:13 am. The 16-year-old athlete balances his sports practice with his studies, currently in his first year of electromecanical studies at the Soumahoro Kanté Vocational Training Center in Medina Coura, near the Modibo Keïta stadium. He trains at the AS Commune II in Bamako.
Maïga's preparation for the Olympic event began two years ago after qualifying at the African Junior Championships in Oran, Algeria. His training sessions took place at the Olympic Pool of the Modibo Keïta stadium and the 26 Mars stadium. Before leaving for Senegal, Maïga and other Malian athletes participated in a 15-day training camp at the Ousmane Traoré Center for Elite Athletes in Kabala.
Maïga has experience competing in the Dakar Olympic Pool, having participated in the Zone 2 tournament last August. His goal is to win medals, stating that the entire country is counting on him. He expressed his determination to give his best to achieve this goal. Mali is represented at the YOG by a delegation of five athletes competing in five disciplines: athletics, judo, taekwondo, fencing, and swimming.
The 4th edition of the Youth Olympic Games, taking place from October 31 to November 13, brings together 2,700 young athletes. For the first time, an Olympic event is being held in Africa, marking a historic moment in the world of sports. The games feature an equal number of events for girls and boys.
Maïga's coach, Mohamed Malikité, Director of Technical National of the Malian Aquatic Federation, shared his athlete's schedule and preparation. Malikité expressed confidence in Maïga's abilities, stating that his objective is to reach the final. Mali's participation in the YOG is a significant moment for the country's sports sector.
The Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony took place on October 31 at the Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio, Senegal. The event marked a new milestone in the history of sports, with Africa hosting an Olympic event for the first time. Younoussa Maïga's participation in the 100m freestyle event today will be a highlight of Mali's presence at the games.
Key points
- Younoussa Maïga to compete in 100m freestyle event at Youth Olympic Games
- Maïga aims to win medals in the competition
- Mali participates in five disciplines at the Youth Olympic Games
