Chelimo Makes Athletics Debut as Ssali Battles Through Dakar 2026 Cycling Road Race.
Uganda’s Racheal Chelimo made a promising start to the athletics competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while cyclist Ali Ssali demonstrated determination in the Men’s Road Race despite an unfortunate setback.
Team Uganda continued its participation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday, November 8, with athletes Racheal Chelimo and Ali Ssali representing the country in athletics and cycling respectively.
Chelimo Records Personal Best in Steeplechase
Racheal Chelimo became the first Ugandan athlete to compete in athletics at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the Women’s 2000m Steeplechase at Complexe Iba Mar Diop.
Competing in the event for the first time, Chelimo delivered a commendable performance, clocking a personal best of 6:49.56 in a highly competitive field.
Kenya’s Abigael Kosgei won the race in 6:30.24, followed by Ethiopia’s Mekonen Abera in 6:32.15 and Türkiye’s Elif Celik in 6:36.99.
Chelimo finished ahead of Slovakia’s Nina Okuliarova, who recorded 6:58.22, as well as other competitors in the field.
Her performance marks an encouraging beginning to her international journey in the discipline, with her coach, Ziana Cheptoyek, expressing confidence in the young athlete’s potential and future prospects.
Ssali Shows Determination in Men’s Cycling Road Race
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Ali Ssali took on some of the world’s leading young cyclists in the Men’s Road Race along Dakar’s Corniche Ouest.
The 76.5km race, comprising nine laps of an 8.5km seafront circuit, was contested under challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching 33°C.
Ssali maintained a strong pace during the early stages of the race as Australia’s Caleb McKenzie established a lead of more than 30 seconds. However, with five laps remaining, a cramp in his right thigh forced the Ugandan cyclist to stop.
Despite the setback, Ssali remains hopeful of recovering in time to compete in the Individual Time Trial scheduled for Tuesday, November 10.
Belgium’s Daan Wilmsen eventually claimed victory in the Men’s Road Race, finishing in 1:47:04 after overtaking McKenzie on the final lap.
Looking Ahead
The participation of Chelimo and Ssali provides valuable international exposure for Uganda’s young athletes as they continue to develop and compete on the global stage.
With athletics and cycling among the remaining disciplines for Team Uganda at the Games, the athletes will be looking to build on their experiences and deliver strong performances in their upcoming events.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, running from October 31 to November 13, continue to provide a platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities and gain experience against international competition.
