Namibia's young sporting talents have departed for Senegal to compete across seven sporting disciplines at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026.

Excitement filled Hosea Kutako International Airport on Tuesday as the first contingent of athletes left to participate in one of the most significant competitions of their developing careers.

The national delegation will represent Namibia across seven codes: athletics, swimming, cycling, triathlon, boxing, beach volleyball, and beach wrestling.

Among those departing were members of the swimming squad, who concluded their training camps and expressed readiness to measure themselves against international competition.

Swimming coach Jean-Michael Leitner confirmed that preparations were complete, noting that the squad is well-prepared and ready to deliver strong performances.

For the young swimmers, the Games offer a platform to test their development against global competition while representing the nation.

Swimmer Madison Bergh acknowledged the scale of the event, stating her ambition to perform at her best and put Namibia on the international map. Teammate Roselinda Matyayi emphasized that months of dedicated training have built solid preparation for the event.

Lorenzo Ethan Esterhuizen highlighted the value of their recent high-intensity training camp, expressing confidence in his preparation heading into the competition. Nathan Bock reinforced the team's shared focus, adding that carrying national pride into the pool remains his primary motivation.

With the preparation phase concluded, Namibia's emerging athletes now shift their focus to competition as they seek to gain international experience and challenge for honours in Senegal. The 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games will run through 13 November.