Kenya’s Young Lionesses opened their Dakar 2026 basketball 3×3 campaign with victory over Fiji.
Kenya rallied to win their basketball 3×3 opener 12-9, while Robert Robin Richard became the country’s first Olympic triathlete.
The Young Lionesses overcame Fiji 12-9 in their opening Group A basketball 3×3 match on Friday at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Captain Brenda Ochieng scored six points to guide Kenya through a tight contest at Senegal’s Complexe Tour de l’Oeuf Stadium. Meanwhile, Robert Robin Richard made history as Kenya’s first athlete to compete in Olympic triathlon.
Young Lionesses rally past Fiji
Fiji entered the match under pressure after China handed them a 21-4 defeat in their opening game. However, they threatened to turn their campaign around against Kenya, leading 9-6 with fewer than three minutes remaining.
With a quarter-final place at stake, Ochieng, Scholasticah Amuhaya, Chelsea Onamu and Vivian Moraa fought back. The Kenyan quartet overturned the deficit and held their nerve to secure a three-point victory.
Fiji’s determined challenge also brought foul trouble as they tried to keep their campaign alive. Kenya, meanwhile, had China next on their schedule for the final pool match. Ochieng’s six points accounted for half of Kenya’s total in the opening win.
Richard completes historic triathlon debut
At the Saly course, 17-year-old Richard completed the men’s triathlon in one hour, nine minutes and 14 seconds. He tackled a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre cycling leg and a five-kilometre run against an international field of young athletes.
Despite time penalties, stomach cramps and muscle cramps, Richard persevered to finish the demanding course. He was among 29 finishers from a starting field of 33 athletes.
Reflecting on his debut, Richard described the opportunity as a special experience and expressed gratitude for representing Kenya. He also welcomed his place in the country’s sporting history as its first Olympic triathlete.
Team manager Elias Njuguna said reaching Dakar marked an achievement in itself. Rather than focusing on results, he stressed the milestone and the value of Richard’s exposure for developing triathlon in Kenya.
Elsewhere, Kenya’s Rising Lionesses rugby sevens team returned home to a hero’s welcome after winning gold in Dakar. They defeated Australia 17-12 through extra-time sudden death, becoming the first Kenyan team to win an Olympic gold medal.
