refugee sprinters compete at Dakar Youth Olympics
Two teenage athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo will represent the Refugee Olympic Team in Senegal.
Two teenage sprinters who fled instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo are preparing to compete for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Florence Masumbe and Rachid Rochene, now living in Uganda, are among six refugee athletes selected for the event. The Games will take place in the Senegalese capital from October 31 to November 13.
For Masumbe, 16, and Rochene, the competition offers a chance to pursue their sporting ambitions and potentially gain access to education and a better future. Rochene expressed his excitement, stating, "This was a dream since I was young. I wanted to compete with people, to see how I can also do, to also achieve medals." Masumbe, who has lived in the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, hopes her participation will transform her life and inspire other young refugees.
Their selection follows years of work by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and its partners in Uganda to support displaced people through sport. Masumbe stated that if she continues with athletics, it will transform her life, allowing her to get a good school, and her family members will also have better opportunities.
Why it mattersTwo refugee athletes will compete in the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, offering them a chance at athletic achievement and future opportunities.