This lineup includes a mix of traditional sports, such as athletics and swimming, as well as newer additions like surfing and skateboarding, reflecting the evolving nature of the games.
Rwanda will be represented by eight athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, including five women and three men across four sports disciplinesâ€"cycling, athletics, swimming, and fencing.
The Rwandan Olympic team arrived in France on July 6, 20024 and commenced their pre-training camp two days later with athletes training at various venues.
Despite Rwanda's consistent participation in the Olympic Games since 1984, a medal of any kind remains a far-fetched dream for the country's athletes. And their dream continues in Paris for the next fortnight.
Meet Rwandan Athletes at the Paris 2024 Games:
Clementine Mukandanga (Women's Full Marathon)
Born on December 8, 1985 in Ngoma district, Eastern Province, Mukandanga plays for Italian side, G.S. Orecchiella Garfagnana as a full Marathon runner.
She will hit the track on August 11 at Hôtel de Ville and Les Invalides.
Mukandanga achieved the required "Minima" time of 2:26:50 at the 39 Firenze Marathon in December 2023 with a time of 2:25:54, the fourth fastest in the event's history and a personal best, improving on her previous record set in Florence in 2022.
She is the only Rwandan athlete in the Olympic Team who qualified for the Paris 2024 Games.
Eric Manizabayo (Men's Road Race)
Manizabayo was born on August 28, 1997 in Nyabihu district in the Western Province. His current team is Benediction Club.
His road race (Cycling) category will take place on August 3 at Pont d' Iéna.
Manizabayo made it to Paris through a wildcard, a special entry granted to an athlete or team that might not have qualified through the usual competition or qualification process.
Diane Ingabire: (Women's Road Race and Individual Time Trial)
Ingabire was born on July 17, 2001 in Nyabihu district located in the Western Province.
She currently plays for Canyon//SRAM Generation team based in Germany but her training base is in Barcelona, Spain.
Her Individual Time Trial event will take place on Saturday, July 27 while the road race is scheduled for August 4, 2024 at Pont d'Iéna.
Her qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympics was also through wildcard
Jazilla Mwamikazi (Women's Mountain Bike)
Mwamikazi is approaching 20years of age because she was born on September 8, 2004; in Rwamagana district, Eastern Province.
She is a member of Ndabaga Cycling Team and is expected to hit the road on July 28, 2024 when the mountain bike racing takes place at Élancourt Hill. She made it to Paris 2024 through a Wildcard.
Yves Nimubona (Men's 10,000m)
Nimubona was born on August 15, 1998 in Nyamasheke didstrict, Western Province.
He will ironically hit the track just 12days before his 26th birthday at Stade de France
Currently he trains at Tuscany Training Camp, Italy. Nimubona also reached Paris 2024 through a wildcard
Peyre Mitilla Oscar Cyusa (Men's 100m Butterfly)
Cyusa is one of the two swimmers representing Rwanda at the Paris 2024 Olympics through a wildcard.
Born on April 27, 2005 in France, Cyusa currently resides in Marseille
The event (100m Butterfly) in which he is set to participate will take place on August 2 with the final slated for August 3 at Paris La Défense Arena
Lidwine Umuhoza Uwase (Women's 50m Freestyle)
Just like Cyusa, Uwase is the other swimmer representing Rwanda at the Paris 2024 Olympics through a wildcard.
She was born on June 13, 1999 in Karongi district, Western Province and plays for Gisenyi Beach Boys.
Her category of 50m Freestyle qualifiers will be played on August 3, 2024, with Semi-finals and Final on August 4, 2024 at Paris La Défense Arena.
Tufaha Uwihoreye (Women's Epée)
Uwihoreye will represent Rwanda at the Olympics in the sport of fencing; a combat sport where two competitors, called fencers, use swords to score points by hitting their opponent.
Born in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District on January 1, 1996, Uwihoreye is a member of Dreams Fencing Club who also finds herself in Paris through a wildcard.
Her event (Epée) will be held on July Saturday 27, 2024 at Grand Palais.
Sam K Nkurunziza
Source : https://en.igihe.com/sports/article/rwandans-at-the-paris-2024-olympics
