Samsung’s new twist on Olympic partnership
The Youth Olympic Games have landed on African soil for the first time, with Dakar hosting 2,700 athletes across 25 sports between 31 Oct and 13 Nov 2026. Samsung, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner since the inaugural Singapore edition in 2010, used the occasion to showcase more than just its Galaxy hardware. On 3 Nov, the tech giant turned its Samsung Open Station inside the Youth Olympic Village into a mentorship hub, running a session titled Beyond the Medal: Your Journey Shapes What Comes Next.
Who was on the panel?
Three seasoned Olympians were invited to share their stories with a small group of 28 budding athletes representing 12 countries:
- Jean‑Pierre Bourhis (31), Senegal’s canoe‑slalom pioneer who competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He is also featured in Samsung’s Voices of Galaxy: Paddling for the Future series.
- Jamila Lunkuse (29), Uganda’s teenage swimming prodigy who first appeared at the Rio Games at age 15.
- Marcus Daniell (36), New Zealand’s tennis player who secured the nation’s first Olympic tennis medal – a bronze – in Tokyo 2020.
The discussion was moderated by Lefa Makgato, Samsung Electronics Africa’s CSR Manager, who framed the conversation around personal growth, resilience and the role of technology in life after sport.
Lessons from the podium and beyond
Opening the path
Bourhis recalled watching Togo’s Benjamin Boukpeti win a kayaking bronze in Beijing 2008, a moment that convinced him an African paddler could reach the podium. He said, “Rio 2016 showed me the way could be opened. Now my job is to keep it open for others,” a sentiment that underpins his current work building a canoeing ecosystem in Senegal.
Lunkuse’s entry into swimming was less about medals and more about friendship. She explained that the camaraderie she felt as a teenager kept her in the sport long after the initial excitement faded.
Daniell shared a pivotal decision at age 14: swapping football for tennis. “Because I’d given up a sport I loved, I knew I had to fully commit,” he said, highlighting the importance of decisive focus.
Overcoming hurdles
The mentors each described a defining obstacle:
- Bourhis trains in France because Senegal lacks white‑water facilities, all while working full‑time as an electric‑vehicle engineer. He views limits as problems to solve, not barriers.
- Lunkuse battled anxiety before Rio 2016, admitting that an obsessive focus on qualifying times stripped the joy from swimming. A brief break helped her regain perspective and ultimately qualify.
- Daniell endured a serious knee injury in 2022 that sidelined him for nearly two years. He credits a purpose larger than tennis – his involvement with athlete‑charity initiatives – for keeping him motivated during rehab.
Translating sport into future impact
Post‑competition, each athlete is channeling their experience into community projects:
- Bourhis is spearheading a local canoe‑building programme that reduces equipment costs, creates jobs and leaves a lasting legacy for Senegalese paddlers.
- Lunkuse now coaches youth and serves on the World Aquatics Athletes’ Committee, urging young competitors to see value beyond podium finishes.
- Daniell sits on the IOC Athletes’ Commission and runs High Impact Athletes, a nonprofit that links athletes with charitable causes.
Samsung’s broader vision
Makgato closed the session by sharing her own story – she first used a computer at 18 through a Samsung‑powered Solar Internet School in South Africa. Today she leads CSR programmes such as Solve for Tomorrow, which aim to give similar opportunities to the next generation.
The panel reinforced Samsung’s claim that technology can be a catalyst for personal development. From providing Galaxy devices that enable instant “Victory Selfies” to supporting solar‑powered learning hubs, the company is positioning itself as more than a gadget supplier – it wants to be an enabler of lifelong pathways.
Why this matters for UK readers
While the event is centred on African athletes, the themes resonate for anyone juggling sport, study or a future career. Samsung’s commitment to mentorship mirrors its UK initiatives, such as the Samsung Innovation Campus and Tech for Good programmes, which often intersect with the mobile‑first lifestyle of our audience. For Android enthusiasts, the story highlights how Samsung’s ecosystem – from smartphones to educational platforms – is being leveraged to nurture talent beyond the playing field.
Looking ahead
The Youth Olympic Games will continue until 13 Nov, with more Samsung‑enabled experiences planned across the village. As the first Olympic event on the continent, Dakar 2026 is set to leave a legacy not just in sport but also in the way technology partners with young people to shape their post‑sport futures.
All quotes are attributed to the speakers; the article is based on Samsung’s UK press release dated 5 Nov 2026.