Uganda's young swimmers made a splash at the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, achieving personal bests and gaining valuable experience despite not medaling. The team of four swimmers, the largest ever to represent the country at the event, delivered promising performances that hint at a bright future for Ugandan swimming.
Mbanga Zara Marie Impresses in 50m Backstroke
Mbanga Zara Marie completed her Youth Olympic journey on a high note, finishing second in the women's 50m backstroke heat four with a time of 36.51 seconds. She narrowly missed out on a finals spot after failing to beat the qualification time, but her performance was a testament to her growth. "I am really happy with my performance and I enjoyed myself because I managed to achieve one of my targets of improving on my time," Mbanga said. She also improved her personal best in the 200m breaststroke from 2:59.60 to 2:56.80, a significant drop.
Peterson Inhensiko Sets New Marks
Peterson Inhensiko also made his mark, competing in four events and setting personal bests in all of them. In the men's 50m backstroke heat five, he finished sixth with a time of 28.13 seconds, behind winner Reis Oliveira of Portugal. In the 50m freestyle, he shaved off three seconds from his entry time of 25.00 to post 24.7, and in the 50m butterfly, he improved from 27.44 to 27.33. "The competition has been fun and I am grateful to be part of it. I raced with the world's best and I have learnt a lot from them," Inhensiko remarked.
Arthur Mwase and Peyton Ssuubi Contribute to Success
Arthur Mwase delivered three personal bests in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events, while Peyton Ssuubi also gained valuable experience. The swimmers acknowledged the gap between themselves and the world's elite but are determined to close it. "They were better than us in many aspects because they train with modern facilities. I am planning to improve on my training schedule and also become consistent with it," Mbanga added.
Looking Ahead
Arthur Mwase will return to the pool today for the men's 200m freestyle, hoping to secure a medal for Uganda. Regardless of the outcome, the team's performances have been a source of pride and a sign of progress for Ugandan swimming. The experience gained at the Youth Olympics will undoubtedly inspire these young athletes to aim higher in future competitions.
