Overview:
Catch the latest updates from Team Palau at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games! From personal bests in swimming to crucial race preparations in triathlon, see how our young athletes are representing Palau on the global stage.
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Team Palau continues to make the most of its journey at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with personal bests, valuable learning experiences, new friendships, and preparations for upcoming competitions.
SWIMMING | ANOTHER PERSONAL BEST FOR KAZUUMI!
Kazuumi Nestor delivered another strong performance in his second event, the Men’s 50m Freestyle! Competing in Heat 5, Lane 6, Kazu finished 4th in his heat, clocking a new Personal Best (PB) of 24.55 seconds, improving his previous best of 24.78 seconds!
Kazu also recorded the fastest reaction time in his heat at 0.57 seconds! His performance brings him incredibly close to the Palau National Record of 24.53 seconds, held by Charlie Gibbons, just 0.02 seconds away!
BEACH WRESTLING | LEARNING BEYOND COMPETITION
Vicente Mettao has successfully concluded his training camp, gaining valuable experience through a combination of sport, education, and cultural activities.
His final activities included a visit to a Beach Wrestling competition session, an educational tour of historic GorΓ©e Island, competition simulation and recovery sessions, and Athlete Role Model and Ambassador activities focused on leadership. These experiences are helping Vicente grow not only as an athlete but also as a young ambassador for Palau.
TRIATHLON | READY FOR RACE DAY!
Elengoi Gibbons and Coach Jennifer Koskelin continued their final preparations with a morning training session at the competition venue in Saly Beach. The team also successfully completed its official competition briefing, ensuring everything is in place for race day!
RACE DAY: November 6 | 8:15 AM (Dakar Time) Saly Beach, Senegal
ATHLETICS | TRAINING, LEARNING & BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS
After a well-deserved rest, Zane Ililau and Coach Charley Ellis enjoyed their first full day settling into the Youth Olympic Village.
Starting with a good breakfast at the dining hall, Zane later explored the Athlete365 Hub, where he connected with fellow young athletes from around the world.
He participated in educational activities focused on competition manipulation and the importance of protecting the integrity of sport. He also enjoyed one of the Olympic Village’s favorite traditions, exchanging national pins and building friendships with athletes from different countries!
Following an afternoon rest, Zane returned to the track for a training session with Coach Charley as preparations continue for his upcoming competition.
The Youth Olympic Games are about more than competition, they are also about learning, friendship, and discovering the values of Olympism.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL | MISSION COMPLETE, HOMEWARD BOUND!
Following the conclusion of their historic Youth Olympic Games debut, Linzy Allen and Brendan Keane, together with Coach Minor Gibson, enjoyed some well-earned downtime. The team visited the official Youth Olympic Games merchandise store, explored the Olympic experience, and began packing for their journey home.
While their competition journey has concluded, the experience, friendships, and lessons gained from competing on the world stage will remain with them for years to come. We are proud of our boys for making history as Palau’s first Beach Volleyball team to compete at the Youth Olympic Games!
As some of our athletes prepare for their final competitions and others begin their journey home, Team Palau continues to embrace the Olympic spirit through determination, friendship, respect, and learning. Every personal best, every competition, every new friendship, and every experience is a step forward for the future of sport in Palau. (PNOC)
#TeamPalau #Dakar2026 #YouthOlympicGames #PalauNOC #OlympicSolidarity