Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maxwell Jele announced the seven-member team during a press conference at the association's headquarters in Lobamba. The team will compete in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13. About 2,700 athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are expected to participate in the event.
The Eswatini team will compete in three sports: swimming, athletics, and taekwondo. Luca Fraser will represent the country in the 50m breaststroke event, accompanied by Coach Meluleki Simelane. Knowledge Mkhwanazi will compete in the 100m event, under the guidance of Coach Muzi Mabuza. In taekwondo, Simisile Thwala will compete in the -55kg category, coached by Mbongeni Nsibandze.
The team's composition was determined through an extensive selection process involving the respective national sports federations. According to Jele, the athletes have been preparing consistently and are expected to compete at the highest level. The team will be led by Chef de Mission Zakhele Zulu.
The team will travel to Dakar in a staggered fashion, according to their respective competition schedules. The swimming contingent will arrive on October 29 and compete from November 1 to 6, before departing on November 8. The athletics and taekwondo contingents will arrive on November 4, with competitions taking place from November 8 to 10 and November 8 to 12, respectively.
Jele expressed gratitude to the government for its financial support, which enabled the EOCGA to cover the team's logistical requirements. He also acknowledged the contribution of the national sports federations in preparing the athletes for the Games.
The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will mark the first time an Olympic event has been staged on African soil. Eswatini's participation in the event is seen as an opportunity for its athletes to gain international experience and compete against top athletes from around the world.
The EOCGA has confirmed that the team is ready for the challenge, with Jele stating that they are confident in their athletes' abilities to represent the country well. The team's performance will be closely watched, as they aim to make a positive impact at the Games.
Key points
- Eswatini's team for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games includes swimmer Luca Fraser, who will compete in the 50m breaststroke event.
- The team will compete in three sports: swimming, athletics, and taekwondo.
- The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will take place from October 31 to November 13, featuring 25 competitive sports and about 2,700 athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees.
