Great Britain, Netherlands Announce Swimmer-Free Youth Olympic Games Rosters

Great Britain and The Netherlands will be part of the United States and Australia in abstaining from sending swimmers to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal because the occasion continues to lose steam.

Great Britain has introduced a roster of 15 athletes to signify the nation on the Youth Olympic Games. Those athletes will compete in archery, badminton, boxing, coastal rowing seaside dash, fencing, gymnastics, and crusing, however not in swimming.

Netherlands have introduced a six athlete roster that may compete in boxing, breaking, archery, skateboarding, and seaside volleyball.

While a number of nations have introduced rosters that embody swimming, many of the world’s swimming superpowers have determined to not take part.

New Zealand is the highest-profile nation that may take part in swimming occasions on the fourth version of the Games. They will ship Ariel Muchirahondo to compete within the 200 again and Alyssa Lawson to compete within the 100 free. Both athletes have requested entries in extra occasions.

Muchirahondo set New Zealand Records for 17-year-olds in each the 200 IM and 200 backstroke on the New Zealand Swimming Championships in May.

Other nations which have introduced swimmers to attend embody Ghana, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Senegal can also be anticipated to ship a roster.

While swimming entry numbers have been lagging, participation seems excessive in sure different sports activities, particularly archery.

World Aquatics, who’re managing the swimming portion of the occasion, says that they’re anticipating to have a full entries record by the primary week of October.

The Youth Olympic Games have been the brainchild and fervour challenge of former IOC president Thomas Bach as a part of his mission to make the Olympics extra relatable to a youthful era and unfold the motion extra globally. With Bach’s retirement, enthusiasm for the Olympic Games has waned. The 2022 version have been postponed till 2026.

The swimming portion of the Youth Olympic Games will happen from November 1-6, 2026.