Wednesday 04 / November / 2026
MUSCAT: Oman’s young swimmer Hamed Al Hasani is determined to turn the experience gained at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) into stronger performances when he competes at the Arab Swimming Championships in Bahrain in mid-November.
Al Hasani recently completed his first Youth Olympic Games campaign, finishing second in his heat of the men’s 400m freestyle in 4:29 minutes before placing 31st overall among 33 competitors. His scheduled 800m freestyle event was cancelled by organisers because of high water temperatures in the Olympic pool.
Despite missing out on the final, the experience proved valuable for the young Omani, who believes competing alongside some of the world's promising swimmers has broadened his understanding of the sport.
“I gained valuable technical and personal lessons in Dakar. Competing at the Youth Olympic Games gave me the opportunity to understand the demands of high-level swimming, learn from international athletes and identify areas where I need to improve,” Al Hasani said.
He added that observing the preparation routines and approaches of swimmers from different countries was particularly beneficial, while life in the Olympic Village offered opportunities to interact with athletes from different cultures and learn more about the Olympic movement.
“Although I had hoped for a better result, the experience has motivated me to work harder. My ambition to win medals and reach the podium remains unchanged,” he said.
Al Hasani will now turn his attention to the Arab Swimming Championships, where he is expected to compete in four freestyle events — the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m. He hopes to translate the lessons from Dakar into improved times and a strong challenge for medals.
National aquatics head coach Mohamed Bouguera also described the Youth Olympic Games as an important learning opportunity, particularly in exposing the swimmer to international standards of training, nutrition, physical preparation and race strategy.
Bouguera said the experience would help broaden Al Hasani’s technical understanding and provide a useful foundation for his continued development. He also pointed to challenges involving training facilities, pool congestion and limited daytime preparation opportunities in Dakar.
The coaching team will incorporate the lessons from the Games into Al Hasani’s preparation for the Bahrain championships, with the focus on improving his performance across all four events.
Meanwhile, Oman’s participation in Dakar 2026 continues in other sports, with taekwondo athlete Ziyad al Balushi scheduled to compete in the men’s under-48kg category on November 8, followed by fencer Jana al Sharji in the women’s individual épée on November 10.
