MBABANE – Team Eswatini swimmer Luca Fraser gave his all in an unfamiliar 200 metres (m) breaststroke heat at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games on Monday.
Having already earned the immense honour of carrying the national flag, Fraser dived into the international spotlight for the men’s 200m breaststroke heats, which is an unfamiliar and daunting test for the sensational swimmer. Battling against elite global talent in Dakar, Fraser gave a valiant account of himself, touching the wall in 2:32:05 to secure a sixth place in his heat. He improved his personal best time by two seconds. Japan’s Lori Miyazaki ultimately set the pace, claiming the heat victory in 2:16:35.
At only 16, he was the second youngest in his heat. While missing out on a spot in the final is undoubtedly a bitter pill for a competitor of Fraser’s calibre, the story in the Senegalese sun is far from over. The award-winning talent was initially set to compete in his pet event, the 50m breaststroke, where he was undoubtedly hungry to unleash his true speed and leave an indelible mark on these historic Games.
As the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games continue to make history, marking the very first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil following a dazzling opening ceremony on Saturday, Fraser’s journey is just beginning.
Team Eswatini’s campaign continues to gather momentum across the capital, with sprinter Knowledge Mkhwanazi and taekwondo sensation Simisile Thwala set to compete in 100 metres and -55kg category, respectively.
