Matete Sets Personal Best As Team Zambia Concludes Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Campaign

By Pauline Ngozoh

Team Zambia's campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games came to an end on Sunday, with sprinter Nathan Matete featuring in the men's 400m, the final event for the Zambian contingent.

Matete clocked a personal best of 54.40 seconds. Despite improving his time, the young sprinter narrowly missed out on qualification for the 400m final, bringing Team Zambia's participation at the historic Games to a close.

Speaking to the NOCZ Media Team after the race, Matete described the contest as tough and admitted it had not been an easy race. He appealed to those who had supported him not to be disappointed with the outcome, stressing that the experience had offered valuable lessons for his athletic journey.

He added that focus will now shift to going back to the drawing board, assessing his performance and identifying areas that require improvement as he prepares for future competitions.

Despite missing out on a place in the final, Matete described the Dakar 2026 experience as worthwhile, highlighting the lessons gained from competing on the international stage. His personal best provided a fitting end to Team Zambia's athletics campaign, as the young athletes return home with valuable experience and renewed motivation to continue developing their sporting careers.