In a press release obtained on Monday, the IOC unveiled an initial list of 31 Athlete Role Models made up of Olympic champions, medallists, and experienced Olympians from around the world. They will mentor and inspire young competitors during the Games in Senegal.
Working with International Federations, the IOC selected athletes from the 25 competition sports and 10 engagement sports included in the Dakar 2026 programme.
The selected Athlete Role Models are: Clarisse Agbegnenou of France (judo), Stéphane Badji of Senegal (football), Christopher Bak of the United States (rowing), Asunción Batista of Spain (beach handball), Rémy Bedu of France (golf), Yves Bourhis of Senegal (canoe slalom), Jean-Pierre Bourhis of Senegal (canoe slalom), Darcy Bourne of Great Britain (hockey), Douglas Brose of Brazil (karate), Sheila Chajira of Kenya (rugby sevens), Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt (beach volleyball), Jomana Elsaiy of Egypt (shooting), Ruth Gbagbi of Côte d’Ivoire (taekwondo), Sonja Greinacher of Germany (basketball 3x3), Zohra Nora Kehli of Algeria (fencing), Khadija Krimi of Tunisia (rowing), Xiaoxiao Lai of China (wushu), Rayssa Leal of Brazil (skateboarding), Vincent Luis of France (triathlon), Jamila Lunkuse of Uganda (swimming), Dina Meshref of Egypt (table tennis), Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda (athletics), Kaylia Nemour of Algeria (artistic gymnastics), Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria (wrestling), Forrester Osei of Ghana (weightlifting), Ayako Rokkaku of Japan (baseball5), Edmond Sanka of Senegal (canoe sprint/Para canoe), Combe Seck of Senegal (canoe sprint), Richard Torrez Jr. of the United States (boxing), Maja Włoszczowska of Poland (cycling) and Siwei Zheng of China (badminton).
Since the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, the Athlete Role Model programme has been one of the key features of the event, giving young competitors the chance to learn directly from elite athletes.
According to the IOC, the role models will be present throughout Dakar 2026 to support participants with advice on competition, training, and life beyond sport. They will also take part in educational workshops covering career management, injury prevention, mental preparation, and other important topics.
In addition, the mentors will attend training sessions, engage with local communities, cheer on athletes during competitions, and congratulate medal winners during victory ceremonies.
Several of the selected athletes welcomed their appointments.
Chinese badminton Olympic champion Siwei Zheng, said the opportunity would allow him to demonstrate that being a champion goes beyond winning medals and includes leadership and inspiring others.
Spain’s Asunción Batista, named the world’s best beach handball player in 2022, described the role as a chance to grow, find purpose, and be part of something bigger than herself.
Senegalese canoe sprint athlete Combe Seck, who carried her country’s flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, said serving as a role model in her home city of Dakar was both a challenge and a source of pride.
Ugandan swimmer Jamila Lunkuse, a two-time Olympian, said representation matters deeply to her and that she hopes to be a visible example for young athletes.
Brazilian karate star Douglas Brose said he had built his career not only to win medals but also to open pathways for others.
IOC Athletes’ Department Director Kaveh Mehrabi, said young athletes naturally look to Olympians for inspiration and guidance.
“At every edition of the Youth Olympic Games, we have seen the incredible impact of athlete role models on the athlete experience,” he said.
“These outstanding ambassadors will play a central role during Dakar 2026 and beyond.”
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be held from October 31st to 13th November 2026.
The championshipships are expected to bring together about 2,700 athletes aged up to 17.
Competitions will take place across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
The announcement highlights the IOC’s commitment to ensuring a meaningful experience for young athletes while building a lasting sporting legacy for Senegal and Africa.
