JOJ 2026: Senegalese Swim Moms Advocate for Better Support

At the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Naël Lamine Voisin, competing in the 50-meter breaststroke, finished fifth in his series on November 5, concluding his Olympic journey without a medal. Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I’m not disappointed. I’m quite satisfied. I wanted to reach the finals, but I couldn’t." He highlighted his achievement in the 100-meter breaststroke, where he had previously broken his personal record.

Voisin acknowledged the support of his mother, Nafi Touré, an Olympian who competed in fencing at the 2004 and 2008 Games. She expressed pride in her son’s participation and urged for better support for young athletes, emphasizing, "You can’t expect much from these young people if you give them so little."

Maïmouna Diakhaté, mother of Rassoul Lèye, echoed this sentiment after her son placed third in his series for the 100-meter backstroke but did not advance further. "They deserve congratulations, not criticism," she said, while lamenting the obstacles young swimmers face, such as a four-year closure of the Olympic swimming pool. She insisted that without proper conditions and support, Senegal's young swimmers could not reach their full potential.

Maguette Dièye, president of the Senegalese Swimming Federation, pointed out the personal records broken during the events and looked forward to future competitions. He mentioned that the Senegalese team had six swimmers, a notable increase from two at the previous Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, aided by training sessions in China and at Gaston Berger University.

Magouba Diop, president of Africa Aquatique and a multiple-time national champion, stated that establishing a training center, like the one that yielded positive results between 2019 and 2022, is crucial. He referred to Malick Fall, a legendary figure in Senegalese swimming, to stress that while high-level coaching isn’t lacking, infrastructure and adequate training conditions are necessary.

Currently, Naël Lamine Voisin receives an Olympic Committee scholarship until the Brisbane Games, a step towards enhancing his potential for future competitions. For Voisin and his peers, securing the necessary resources will be vital in translating their hard work into results, with hopes of achieving Olympic medals.