Ssengozi basks in adulation of companions

Swimmer Rebecca Ssengozi is one of Uganda's precious gems at the ongoing Youth Africa Games in Algeria.

With her signature wide smile, the 18-year-old was excited to collect Uganda's first swimming medal (bronze) at the games on Monday in the 50m butterfly.

Her performance was a bit reminiscent of her heroics in 2015 when the then 15-year-old propelled Uganda to its first continental medals in the Africa Junior Championships Egypt.

Ssengozi continues to grow in lips and bounds in her rather young career and certainly her best years are ahead of her.

Her announcement to join the Johns Hopkins University in the United States was no doubt a form of elevation and clearly exploits in the United States have only served to escalate her talent.

She clocked 29.33 in the competitive event to set the tone for a line of Ugandan swimmers that travelled for the third edition of the games.

Youngsters Adnan Kabuye, Jesse Ssengozi, Darren Ssamula, Selina Katumba and Ambala Atuhaire  are the other Ugandan swimmers in Algeria.

The games double as the qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games slated for 6th -18th October in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Winning a medal at a competition of this magnitude quickly translates into Ssengozi being one of Africa's best in her category.

All said Ssengozi's remarkable performance is a perpetual reminder that swimmers based outside Uganda form the core of Ugandan swimming.

EMAIL: kbalikuddembe@newvision.co.ug

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