KAMPALA, Uganda
Refugee athletes Florence Masembe, 17, and Rachid Rochene, 16, have completed a training session at the Lugogo hockey grounds in Kampala as they prepare to travel to Kenya for their final training camp ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The Congolese-born athletes, who are based in Uganda, are expected to proceed from Kenya to Dakar, Senegal, where they will represent the Refugee Olympic Team at the Games scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026.
Their participation marks a historic milestone, as Dakar 2026 will be the first Youth Olympic Games to feature a Refugee Olympic Team.
Masembe will compete in the women's 200 metres, while Rochene will contest the men's 200 metres. Their selection highlights the growing opportunities for talented young refugees to pursue their sporting ambitions on the international stage.
The Kampala training session marked another important step in their preparations as they fine-tune their form before heading to Kenya.
From Kampala to the Olympic stage
The journey to Dakar has been shaped by dedication, structured training and opportunities provided through grassroots sports development programmes.
Both athletes were identified through Game Connect, a community sports programme supported by the Olympic Refuge Foundation. The initiative uses sport to promote inclusion, well-being and personal development among young people in refugee settlements and host communities.
Their progress demonstrates how community-based programmes can help identify talent and create pathways to elite competition.
The two athletes have gained competition experience through Uganda Athletics Federation events at Namboole and the ANOCA Zone V Games in Nairobi. They have also undertaken training at the Complete Sports facility in Kaptagat, Kenya, as part of their preparations.
Their upcoming camp will provide a final opportunity to sharpen their performance before travelling to Senegal for the competition.
A historic Refugee Olympic Team
The Refugee Olympic Team for Dakar 2026 comprises six athletes based in Uganda and Kenya, competing in athletics, judo and taekwondo.
In athletics, Masembe and Rochene will compete in the 200 metres, while Clement Niyomuhoza will contest the men's 800 metres and Nyataba Gatloth the women's 800 metres.
The team's participation represents a significant step towards expanding sporting opportunities for displaced young people and recognising their talent beyond the challenges associated with forced displacement.
The team was unveiled during the 146th International Olympic Committee Session, with former refugee athlete Yiech Pur Biel appointed as Chef de Mission.
Biel competed in the 800 metres at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a member of the first Refugee Olympic Team. Having experienced displacement himself, he has become an advocate for refugee inclusion through sport.
His involvement offers the young athletes an example of how sporting opportunities can open doors to international competition and inspire other displaced people.
Sport creating opportunities
Masembe and Rochene's journey also highlights the importance of investing in coaching, training facilities and organised competitions for refugee communities.
Displacement can disrupt education, family life and access to sporting opportunities. Community initiatives such as Game Connect seek to address some of these challenges by providing young people with safe spaces to develop their abilities, build confidence and connect with others.
The athletes' progress from community sport in Uganda to the international Olympic stage demonstrates the potential impact of sustained support from sporting organisations and their partners.
Their participation also sends a powerful message to young refugees that displacement does not have to end their ambitions.
Preparing for Dakar
The athletes have also had the opportunity to learn from Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion who has been mentoring members of the Refugee Olympic Team.
His guidance has focused on the values of discipline, commitment, preparation and the Olympic spirit.
Although Masembe and Rochene compete in the 200-metre sprint, these principles remain essential as they prepare to face some of the world's most promising young athletes.
Dakar 2026 will be particularly significant as the first Olympic sporting event hosted on African soil.
For the two teenagers, competing in Senegal will mean more than pursuing individual medals. They will also represent young refugees whose sporting potential deserves recognition and support.
As they leave Kampala for their final preparations in Kenya, Masembe and Rochene will be looking to translate months of training into strong performances on the track.
Regardless of their eventual results, their selection has already secured them a place in a historic chapter of youth sport.
Their journey from Uganda to Dakar is a reminder that, with the right support and opportunities, young refugees can overcome barriers and compete on the world's biggest sporting stages.
Masembe, Rochene Complete Kampala Training Ahead of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
