Runners Florence Masumbe, 17, and Rachid Rochene, 16, both originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and now based in Uganda, will race for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 in Senegal.
They are part of the first Refugee Olympic Team from Uganda ever to compete at a Youth Olympic Games, where both will race in the 200-metre event.
Both athletes came through Game Connect, a community programme supported by the Olympic Refuge Foundation that uses sport to improve the mental health and well-being of young people affected by displacement.
Masumbe is a passionate young sprinter from Kamwenge who has raced at four Uganda Athletics Championships at Namboole National Stadium and holds a personal best of 25 seconds in the 200m.
Her goal reaches beyond her own results; she wants her performances to inspire and change the lives of young people in Kamwenge.
Her teammate, Rachid Rochene, who trains in Masajja, Kampala, also has four Uganda Athletics Championships appearances at Namboole under his belt and a 200m personal best of 25 seconds.
Florence and Rachid demonstrate how grassroots sport can open a pathway to elite competition. Game Connect operates in Adjumani, Kampala, Kamwenge, and Kyangwali, and has reached more than 10,000 young people.
Their preparation for Dakar included a training camp at the Complete Sports Facility in Kaptagat, Kenya, focusing on core strength, stability, and overall athletic development alongside the other athletes selected for the team.
They also received mentorship from Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan Olympic marathon champion and Official Refugee Team Mentor, who spoke to the athletes about discipline, teamwork, and seizing their opportunity.
