Al Hasani takes valuable lessons from Dakar campaign

DAKAR, NOV 4
Oman’s young swimmer Hamed al Hasani has concluded his first Olympic campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with valuable experience and lessons that he hopes to put into practice at the upcoming Arab Swimming Championships in Bahrain.
Al Hasani finished second in the first heat of the men’s 400m freestyle in 4:29 before placing 31st overall among 33 competitors at the Olympic swimming pool in the Complexe Tour de l’Œuf. His scheduled 800m freestyle event was cancelled by the organisers due to high water temperatures.
Saudi Arabia’s Rami Bilal al Rahmouni won gold in 3:47, followed by Russia’s Bogdan Turbkin, who took silver in 3:50. Mexico’s Daniel Grillo claimed bronze in 3:52.
Although he failed to advance beyond the preliminary round, Al Hasani is determined to use the experience as a stepping stone towards stronger performances. His next assignment will be the Arab Swimming Championships in Bahrain in mid-November, where he is expected to compete in four freestyle events: the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m.
LESSONS BEYOND THE COMPETITION
Reflecting on his debut at the Youth Olympic Games, Al Hasani described the experience as an important milestone in his sporting career, helping him understand the technical and physical demands of international competition and identify areas requiring improvement.
He highlighted the opportunity to observe elite young swimmers from different countries and learn about their preparation and training methods. Living in the Olympic Village also allowed him to interact with athletes from diverse cultural backgrounds, build friendships and gain a deeper understanding of the Olympic movement and its values.
While admitting that he had hoped for a better result in Dakar, Al Hasani said his ambition to win medals and reach the podium remained unchanged. He is now keen to translate the lessons into improved performances in Bahrain.
BOUGUERA: A VALUABLE FOUNDATION
National aquatics head coach Mohamed Bouguera also described the Dakar campaign as an important learning opportunity, despite Al Hasani missing out on a place in the final.
The Algerian coach said exposure to international swimmers had helped the Omani understand high-level training programmes, nutritional requirements, physical and technical preparation, and race strategies.
Bouguera also highlighted organisational challenges, including congestion around the pool's warm-up facilities and limited opportunities for daytime training because of high temperatures. He added that some facilities and services required by athletes at the Olympic Village were unavailable.
Despite these difficulties, he believes the experience provides a valuable foundation for Al Hasani's development. The coaching team will incorporate the lessons into his preparation for the Arab Championships.
TAEKWONDO AND FENCING NEXT
With Oman's aquatics participation complete, attention now shifts to taekwondo and fencing.
Ziyad al Balushi is scheduled to compete in the men's under-48kg taekwondo category on November 8 at the Iba Mar Diop venue. Fencer Jana al Sharji will represent Oman in the women's individual épée on November 10 at Dakar Expo in Diamniadio, becoming the final Omani athlete to compete at the Games.