“Talent is everywhere”: Humphrey Kayange reflects on Africa’s Olympic moment at Dakar 2026
For Humphrey Kayange, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have brought together two defining parts of his life: his experience as an African Olympian and his role in helping to deliver the first Olympic sporting event on the continent.
The former captain of Kenya’s rugby sevens team, who competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and now chairs the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026, has watched years of preparation come to life across Senegal.
Reflecting on the delivery of the Games, Kayange praised Senegal’s work as host and the commitment behind the first Olympic sporting event staged in Africa.
Senegal has demonstrated its ability to deliver an Olympic event at the highest level. The venues, the fields of play and the overall organisation reflect the enormous commitment of the Organising Committee, the authorities and the thousands of people who have contributed to these Games. Combined with a great atmosphere in the stadiums and the warmth of teranga, this has made Dakar 2026 a source of pride for Senegal and for the whole African continent.
For Kayange, the achievement is also deeply personal. “Dakar 2026 has been a really proud moment. Emotional,” he said. “As an Olympian from Africa, just seeing all the planning and preparations, and seeing everything come to life, has been a really special feeling.”
For Kayange, that feeling has been reinforced by the response of the Senegalese people, from the packed stadiums to the excitement across the host city.
“We’ve seen the warmth and hospitality of the people in Senegal as they welcomed these Games,” he said. “It really shows the impact this has had on Senegal and also on the continent.”
A historic victory for Kenya
One moment carried particular significance for the former rugby player.
Kenya’s women defeated favourites Australia in sudden-death extra time to win the rugby sevens competition, securing the country’s first Youth Olympic gold medal in a team sport. Madagascar took bronze, placing two African teams on the podium.
“Kenya’s win in the women’s rugby sevens final was really emotional,” said Kayange. “As a former rugby player and captain for Kenya, seeing their resilience, their commitment and their belief was very special. Winning that game in extra time was not easy.”
Beyond the result, he believes the victory sent a wider message to girls and young athletes across Africa.
Sport gives you opportunity. It gives you hope and belief,” he said. “What those girls achieved is something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Madagascar’s bronze medal made the occasion even more significant for the continent. But for Kayange, the performances also illustrated a larger truth about access to sporting opportunities.
“Talent is universal. Talent is everywhere,” he said. “Sometimes opportunities are scarce and you do not get the same chances to play. But once you do, and once you invest in young people, we see such results come to life.”
African athletes seize their opportunity
The rugby competition has been one of several areas in which African athletes have made their mark at Dakar 2026.
Egypt’s Zain Ali swept the three butterfly titles in the swimming pool, winning gold over 50m, 100m and 200m. Host nation Senegal generated scenes of celebration at the Saly Beach West complex by winning its first three gold medals of the Games in beach wrestling.
“It has been amazing for the African continent,” said Kayange. “We’ve seen Egypt win in swimming and Senegal win their first three gold medals in beach wrestling. It speaks to the potential of the young people on this continent.”
He added: “We’ve seen African countries and NOCs come here, believe and go out and win across several sports. Once you create the opportunity for the talent to come alive, these are the results that you see.”
For Kayange, these performances demonstrate not only the ability of African athletes, but also the importance of providing more opportunities for them to compete and develop.
Dakar 2026, he believes, can help build confidence across the continent and encourage further investment in young athletes, sports organisations and the people responsible for delivering major events.
More than the competition
While the sporting performances have provided many of the defining images of Dakar 2026, Kayange believes the young athletes will take away something broader from their time in Senegal.
For many of the approximately 2,700 competitors, Dakar 2026 is their first Olympic experience. At the Youth Olympic Village, they are living alongside athletes from different countries and sports, forming friendships and participating in cultural and educational activities.
“For many athletes, this is their Olympic moment,” he said. “We’ve seen from their social media posts and from conversations around the Village what this means to them.”
Athlete365 House has provided educational programmes covering subjects including sporting integrity, anti-doping and the prevention of competition manipulation, alongside areas in which athletes can meet and spend time together.
“For many of them, it is more than the competition,” said Kayange. “It is about the friendships they are making, the cultural experiences they are having and the education programmes in the Village.”
“What they will remember most about Dakar isn’t necessarily the competition. It is what Dakar made them feel.”
The warmth of teranga
As the Games enter their final days, attention is turning towards the last competitions and the Closing Ceremony at the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio on 13 November.
But Kayange is also looking beyond the celebrations to what remains after the athletes and delegations have left Senegal.
That legacy includes the infrastructure developed for the Games, the experience acquired by the Senegalese workforce and the opportunities created for young people. It also includes something less tangible: the welcome extended by the host country.
The warmth of teranga has really come to life,” he said. “We will leave Dakar with so many memories of sport and more than sport. This is what Olympic memories and the Olympic Games are all about.
For Kayange, that is why the significance of Dakar 2026 will extend well beyond the Closing Ceremony.
“We have to make sure that, after we leave, everyone keeps the conversation going long after it is all done.”