Samsung uses the Dakar Youth Olympic Games to mentor the next generation of athletes
The inaugural African Youth Olympic Games, staged in Dakar from 31 Oct to 13 Nov, featured more than 2,700 competitors across 25 sports. As part of its ongoing role as a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung Electronics Africa turned the Samsung Open Station inside the Youth Olympic Village into a learning hub on 3 Nov. The company organised a session titled “Beyond the Medal: Your Journey Shapes What Comes Next”, bringing together three seasoned Olympians with a small group of emerging athletes.
Who were the mentors?
- Jean‑Pierre Bourhis – the 31‑year‑old canoe slalom paddler who has represented Senegal at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Bourhis credits the surprise bronze won by Togo’s Benjamin Boukpeti in Beijing 2008 as the spark that made an African paddling dream feel possible.
- Jamila Lunkuse – a 29‑year‑old swimmer from Uganda who first stepped onto the Olympic stage at just 15. She describes her early love for the pool as a social activity rather than a calculated quest for medals.
- Marcus Daniell – a 36‑year‑old New Zealand tennis player who helped end his nation’s 109‑year drought by winning bronze in Tokyo 2020. Daniell switched from football to tennis at 14 and has since become an active member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The trio was moderated by Lefa Makgato, Samsung’s CSR Manager for Africa, who has a personal story of how a Samsung‑run solar‑powered school changed her own trajectory.
Opening the conversation: how the Olympic path begins
Makgato kicked off the dialogue by asking each mentor to recount the moment they first imagined themselves at the Games. Bourhis recalled watching a fellow African athlete podium in Beijing, which proved that “an African paddler could reach the podium”. Lunkuse emphasized the role of friendship, noting she never set out to chase medals but simply wanted to belong to a team. Daniell reflected on the decisive choice he made at 14 to focus solely on tennis, a commitment that later paid off with a historic medal.
Overcoming obstacles – the real‑world challenges
The conversation then shifted to the toughest hurdles each athlete faced. Bourhis explained that Senegal lacks white‑water facilities, forcing him to train in France while juggling a full‑time job repairing electric‑vehicle batteries. He likened technical problems to puzzles rather than dead‑ends, a mindset that kept his training schedule flexible.
Lunkuse opened up about the anxiety that built up before Rio 2016, describing a period where the pressure of qualifying times eclipsed the joy of swimming. A brief break from the sport helped her regain perspective and ultimately qualify for the Games.
Daniell shared a more recent setback: a severe knee injury in 2022 that sidelined him for almost two years. He credited a broader sense of purpose – his involvement in athlete‑focused charities – with pulling him through the rehabilitation process.
Translating sport lessons into community impact
When asked how the lessons learned on the field translate into life after competition, each mentor highlighted a concrete initiative. Bourhis is spearheading a canoe‑building project in Senegal that aims to make the sport more affordable, create jobs and leave a lasting legacy for future paddlers.
Lunkuse, now a youth coach and member of the World Aquatics Athletes’ Committee, urges young athletes to remember that “results do not define your value”. She stresses the importance of mentorship and peer support in sustaining long‑term passion.
Daniell, founder of the nonprofit High Impact Athletes, connects elite sportspersons with charitable organisations, arguing that a purpose beyond personal achievement keeps athletes motivated long after the final whistle.
Samsung’s broader vision for the Youth Olympic Games
Samsung’s involvement goes beyond providing the physical space for the mentoring session. The company has equipped the Village with Galaxy devices that enable instant “Victory Selfies”, live‑streamed highlights and interactive data displays for athletes and fans alike. By pairing cutting‑edge technology with community‑focused programmes, Samsung reinforces its claim of supporting the “whole athlete” – on and off the field.
Makgato closed the event by sharing her own experience of discovering a computer for the first time at a Samsung‑run solar school in a South African township. She highlighted how access to technology can open doors that would otherwise remain hidden, a message she hopes will resonate with the 28 young athletes from 12 nations who attended the session.
Why this matters for UK readers
For UK consumers who follow Samsung’s mobile lineup, the Dakar mentoring programme showcases how the brand is leveraging its Galaxy ecosystem in a social‑impact context. The same devices that power the “Victory Selfie” feature are the same smartphones and tablets that many young athletes back home use to track training metrics, stay connected with coaches, and access educational content. Samsung’s continued partnership with the Youth Olympic Games signals a long‑term commitment to nurturing talent – a narrative that may influence future contract deals or promotional offers tied to the brand’s sports‑focused marketing.
Bottom line: Samsung’s “Beyond the Medal” session at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games gave rising athletes a rare glimpse into the personal journeys of three seasoned Olympians, while reinforcing the tech giant’s role as a catalyst for both performance and post‑sport development. The event underlines how sport, technology and community outreach can intersect to create lasting opportunities for the next generation.
