Seven Golds, One Olympic Dream: Zara Mbanga sets sights on Senegal

When Coach Eric announced Zara Mbanga’s entry at the Africa Aquatics Zone III Swimming Championships in Kampala, one could only imagine what was going through the young swimmer’s mind.

With the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal just seven to ten days away, the moment was about more than racing for medals on home soil. It was also a final opportunity to test herself, build confidence and carry Uganda’s hopes into a much bigger swimming arena.

And if her performance in Kampala was anything to go by, Mbanga is heading into that next challenge with plenty of reasons to be excited.

Mbanga delivered a golden performance at the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships, winning all seven of her races to underline her quality and announce herself as one of Uganda’s standout performers at the continental competition.

Yet, behind the impressive medal haul was a swimmer who understood that not every race would be a smooth ride.

“My experience was good, although there were some races where I struggled a little bit, but most of the races were good,” Mbanga reflected. “I enjoyed my time there, and I enjoyed the competition.”

It was a measured response from a swimmer whose results did most of the talking. Seven gold medals might sound like a perfect week in the pool, but Mbanga knows that progress is not always about making every race look easy. Sometimes, it is about navigating the difficult moments, learning from them and still finding a way to finish on top.

For Mbanga, the Zone III Championships carried a special meaning beyond the medals. It was her seventh time competing at the event, but this edition offered something she had not experienced before: representing Uganda at a championship hosted on home soil.

She had previously missed an opportunity to compete when the event was held in Uganda because she was considered too young. This time, she was old enough to represent her country in front of its own swimming community.

“That was different because it was in Uganda. There was a time it was in Uganda, but then I was too young, and they said I couldn’t go,” she explained. “But now I was old enough to represent Uganda on home soil, and it was a very good experience.”

The occasion clearly lived up to her expectations. The atmosphere, the support and the energy around the competition gave the championships an extra dimension.

“It was a very lively competition. There was a lot of hype, a lot of vibes. I really enjoyed that part,” she said.

For a swimmer preparing to step onto the Youth Olympic stage, competing at home offered a valuable reminder of what it means to wear the national colours. The seven gold medals were the headline, but the experience of representing Uganda before a home crowd was another reward altogether.

Now comes the next chapter, and it is a considerably different one. The Youth Olympic Games in Senegal represent an opportunity for Mbanga to test herself against swimmers from a wider international field. It is a prospect that excites her, even if she knows the challenge will be different from what she encountered in Kampala.

“When I hear Youth Olympics, I’m very excited because I was chosen to take part in it,” she said. But the excitement comes with an understanding that she is entering a different competitive environment.

“Competition is like a whole different world because it’s going to be in Senegal,” she explained, adding that she expects the experience to be very different from competing in Uganda.

Zara Mbanga (R) at the flag-off ceremony at Lugogo

That difference is precisely what makes the opportunity so significant. The Youth Olympics will bring together athletes from different countries and competitive backgrounds, offering Mbanga a chance to measure her development against swimmers she may not ordinarily encounter at regional competitions. And she is not travelling simply to admire the occasion. She has races to swim, times to chase and valuable experience to gain.

Mbanga will compete in the 200-metre breaststroke, 50-metre breaststroke and 200-metre individual medley (IM) at the Youth Olympic Games.

The programme gives her an opportunity to showcase her breaststroke strength while also testing herself in the individual medley, an event that demands versatility across the four strokes. She expects the competition to be fierce, particularly with swimmers from countries renowned for their swimming strength.

“I expect really good competition because they are going to be different countries, very competitive countries like Japan,” she said, noting that Japan has many world-record holders.

But rather than being intimidated by the prospect of racing against strong international opposition, Mbanga sees it as an opportunity to learn, improve and encounter athletes who could become major names in the sport. “I expect to meet future stars in the coming future when they’re older, and I also expect to make really good times,” she said.

The Youth Olympics may be a new world, but Mbanga is arriving with a clear idea of what she wants from it.

Mbanga described the preparation for the games as hectic and, at times, draining. Balancing academics with the demands of competitive swimming has not always been easy, but she believes the process has helped her grow mentally and strengthened her relationship with the sport.

“It’s been very hectic. It’s been very draining a lot of the time because I have to balance school and swimming,” she said. “But overall, it has really helped me mentally.”

There is also a sense of reward in knowing that the hours of work have led to a major opportunity.

“It has really helped me love the sport even more, knowing that I’ve been working hard and I’m going to reap good results,” she added.

The performances in Kampala were the visible results, and while the seven gold medals provide an impressive boost ahead of Senegal, Mbanga knows that each new competition brings a fresh challenge. What worked in Kampala must now be carried into a different environment, against different opponents and under a different level of scrutiny.

Representing Uganda at the Youth Olympic Games for the first time naturally brings some pressure. Mbanga does not pretend otherwise. “Yes, just a little bit of pressure,” she admitted. “It also gives me a lot of excitement. It gives me more excitement than pressure.”

The challenge is substantial, but so is the opportunity.

The Youth Olympic Games are slated to commence on 31st October in Dakar, Senegal, with swimming competition running from 1 to 6 November 2026 at the Dakar Aquatic Centre (Egg Tower Complex).

Swimming will have a schedule overview of 30 medal events. The competitors will swim preliminaries in the morning and finals in the evening.

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