Beyond the medals: Kipchoge and Leal inspire the next generation at Dakar 2026

What does a two-time Olympic marathon champion have in common with a skateboarder who won her first Olympic medal at just 13?

At the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Eliud Kipchoge and Rayssa Leal have been drawing on their very different sporting journeys to inspire the next generation, sharing lessons that extend far beyond winning medals.

For Kipchoge, it is an opportunity to pass on the experience gained over more than two decades at the highest level of athletics. For Leal, still only 18, it is a chance to help young athletes navigate an Olympic experience she knows all too well.

Sharing the lessons of a lifetime

For Eliud Kipchoge, meeting young athletes at Dakar 2026 has brought back memories of his own early days in sport.

Speaking about his conversations with athletes at the Youth Olympic Village, the Kenyan legend recalled reminding them that he had once been in their position.

"About 25 years ago I was like you," he recalled telling them.

After more than two decades at the highest level of athletics, including two Olympic marathon gold medals, Kipchoge is now passing on his experiences as a Global Ambassador and mentor to the Refugee Olympic Team, competing at the Youth Olympic Games for the first time.

Having met members of the team at a training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, ahead of the Games, he has continued those conversations in Dakar, spending time with athletes at the Youth Olympic Village and taking part in an Inside Sports Session.

For Kipchoge, supporting the refugee athletes carries particular significance.

"All of us, we are equal. All of us, we belong to this world, belong to this continent," he said, emphasising the importance of giving every young athlete the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, regardless of their background or circumstances.

His advice also draws on the challenges he has faced throughout his own career. Despite his remarkable achievements, Kipchoge acknowledged that managing the mental pressures of elite competition has been among his greatest challenges.

"The biggest challenge I call it to face is how to control the mind," he reflected during an interview with Olympic Channel Services (OCS), describing the expectations that come from supporters, sponsors and those closest to an athlete.

His commitment to sharing those experiences extends beyond the athletes competing in Dakar. Kipchoge also took part in the Dakar 2026 Play Programme, organised with World Athletics to introduce local children to athletics. He is also set to participate in an Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) discussion at Corniche Ouest, exploring the role of sport in education and human development with the local community.

From young Olympic star to role model

The pressures Kipchoge describes are something Rayssa Leal knows well, despite being at a very different stage of her sporting career.

The Brazilian skateboarder was just 13 when she won silver at Tokyo 2020, stepping into the Olympic spotlight at an age when most young athletes are still discovering their potential. Five years later, and with another Olympic medal to her name from Paris 2024, the 18-year-old is using those experiences to help the next generation navigate their own Olympic journeys.

At Dakar 2026, where skateboarding is making its Youth Olympic Games debut, Leal has been watching young athletes take to the course, sharing her perspective as both a Global Ambassador and an Athlete Role Model.

Watching from the sidelines has also prompted her to reflect on what she might have gained from competing at the YOG herself.

"It would have been really cool if we'd had the chance to take part in the Youth Olympic Games. Even just to arrive at [the Olympic Games] feeling more at ease," she told Olympics.com.

Having experienced the Olympic spotlight at such a young age, Leal has come to appreciate everything the Games have to offer beyond competition, from friendships formed in the Olympic Village to meeting athletes from different sports and countries.

She has also shared advice on managing pressure and protecting mental well-being, drawing on the challenges she has faced throughout her career.

"You can train your body perfectly, but if your mind isn't okay you can't perform – and, more importantly, you can't be happy," she explained in an Athlete365 interview ahead of the Games.

For Leal, maintaining that balance also means staying true to yourself.

"Be authentic and don't try to copy anyone – the thing that makes you different is your biggest strength," she advised young athletes.

That spirit of individuality has also been reflected in her activities beyond the skateboarding competition. In Dakar, Leal joined local student artists for a programme exploring the connection between art and sport through skateboarding, bringing together different forms of creativity and self-expression.

The encounter offered another way to connect with young people, showing how sport can encourage creativity and provide opportunities for expression outside the competition.

Inspiring a generation, leaving a legacy

For Kipchoge, seeing the Youth Olympic Games take place on African soil carries particular meaning.

"I'm really happy to see this happening in Africa," he said during his interview in Dakar, describing the Games as an opportunity for the continent to showcase its sporting talent and demonstrate its ability to host major international events.

While Kipchoge and Leal have followed very different paths, both have used their experiences to connect with young athletes and the wider Senegalese community. From mentoring refugee athletes to engaging with local children and artists, their involvement has helped take the spirit of Dakar 2026 outside the competition venues, leaving young people with new experiences, inspiration and opportunities to explore.