Hamed targets 400m freestyle after Dakar

Al Naabi: Dakar 2026 offers a platform to develop young athletes and strengthen Oman’s Olympic presence
DAKAR, Senegal: Omani swimmer Hamed bin Sulaiman al Hasani will now focus on the men’s 400m freestyle at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after organisers cancelled both 800m freestyle events because of high water temperatures at the Olympic swimming pool.
The decision, announced by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee in coordination with World Aquatics, followed concerns over conditions at the Complexe Tour de l’Œuf in the Senegalese capital. It ruled out Al Hasani’s planned 800m debut, scheduled for November 1, which was due to mark the start of Oman’s participation in the Games.
The swimmer will instead compete in the 400m freestyle heats on November 3 at 10 am local time (2 pm Oman time). Organisers have also brought forward morning swimming training sessions from 11 am to 10 am in response to the pool conditions.
A PROMISING TALENT WITH OLYMPIC AMBITIONS
Born on January 24, 2010, Al Hasani is regarded as one of Oman’s promising young freestyle swimmers. His events range from 100m to 1,500m freestyle, as well as open-water swimming. He has personal bests of 4:27 in the 400m and 9:21 in the 800m freestyle.
Although he will not compete in the 800m in Dakar, Al Hasani remains focused on improving his 400m personal best and making the most of his first appearance at a major Olympic event.
“I am very happy to be here at the Youth Olympic Games. This is my first appearance at such a major event, and I am looking forward to giving my best, achieving positive results and setting new personal bests,” Al Hasani said.
“The preparations have gone well. I trained in the Olympic pool designated for warm-ups before the competition and worked on adapting to the conditions here. I am looking forward to competing and making this a positive experience,” he added.
Al Hasani has represented Oman at regional and continental competitions, including the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships in India in September and October last year, the Arab Age Group Championships in Morocco and the Gulf Games in Qatar.

BOUGUERA: OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE WILL BE VALUABLE
Mohamed Bouguera, coach of Oman’s national aquatics team, said the Youth Olympic Games would provide Al Hasani with an important opportunity to develop at an early stage of his career.
The Algerian coach said the swimmer’s preparation included a training camp in Egypt from August 19 to September 1, followed by sessions at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex swimming pool in Bausher, Muscat.
“Hamed’s participation in this global event is an extremely important milestone in his sporting career. It gives him the opportunity to compete alongside some of the most talented young swimmers from around the world. We hope he can deliver a good performance, achieve positive results and set new personal bests that reflect his technical progress and do justice to Oman’s participation in this Olympic event,” Bouguera said.
He acknowledged that Al Hasani would face a demanding field, with several competitors born in 2009, making them a year older than the Omani swimmer. The age difference and the high technical standard would add to the challenge in the 400m freestyle.
However, Bouguera said the value of the experience should not be judged solely by the result or the prospect of reaching the later rounds. Exposure to international competition, understanding the demands of Olympic events and building confidence against high-level opponents were equally important.
AL NAABI: PLATFORM TO INVEST IN OMAN’S SPORTING FUTURE
Meanwhile, Eng Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Board Member of the Oman Olympic Committee and Head of Oman’s delegation to Dakar 2026, said the country’s participation reflected its commitment to maintaining a presence at major sporting events while giving young athletes opportunities to gain experience.
Al Naabi said the Games offered athletes an opportunity to develop by competing against talented peers from different countries. He hoped the Omani athletes would produce strong performances and represent Oman with distinction.
He said youth Olympic competitions were particularly important for athletes at the formative stages of their careers. They expose young competitors to higher standards, help them understand the demands of international sport and encourage them to develop their abilities, with the aim of progressing to senior championships and Olympic competitions.
Al Naabi added that the benefits extended beyond sporting results, highlighting the cultural and educational opportunities offered by the Olympic experience. He urged the young athletes to make the most of their time in the Olympic Village by meeting competitors, learning about different cultures and sharing experiences.
He said the village reinforced Olympic values such as friendship, respect, tolerance and cultural exchange.
Al Naabi thanked the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Senegal for its cooperation and support, particularly in facilitating the delegation’s arrival and participation in the Games.
AL NAABI VISITS NATIONAL AQUATICS TEAM
After arriving in Dakar, Al Naabi visited the national aquatics team at the Complexe Tour de l’Œuf and watched a training session. He encouraged Al Hasani to stay focused, redouble his efforts and make full use of his abilities.
Saheem bin Khalaf al Subhi, Acting Chef de Mission of Oman’s delegation, and other delegation members were also present.