Valentine Platini and Maxime Connen are representing Monaco at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, with the two 16-year-olds competing in showjumping and athletics at the first Olympic event held on African soil.
The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games run from Saturday 31st October to Friday 13th November in Senegal, bringing together approximately 2,700 young athletes across 25 sports and 153 events.
Platini, who carried Monaco’s flag during the opening ceremony, begins the individual showjumping qualifiers on Tuesday 3rd November.
The competition presents a challenge for its 24 riders, who compete on horses supplied by the organisers and allocated by a draw. Riders have spent the training days getting to know their horses.
Platini has been paired with Élite Longane, with whom she will compete for a place in the individual final on Friday 6th November.
She will also take part in the mixed continental team competition on Thursday 5th November, joining riders from Sweden, Switzerland, and Russia to represent Europe.
Monaco’s other representative, sprinter Maxime Connen, will arrive in Dakar on Wednesday 4th November with his coach Christophe Mattei.
He is scheduled to compete in the 100 metres on Sunday 8th November, with the event taking place towards the end of the day.
Prince Albert II, president of the Monaco Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, attended the opening ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Saturday 31st October.
The following day, he met members of Monaco’s delegation, including chef de mission Damien Desprat, Platini, and her coach Danai Tsatsou, and accompanied them on a visit to the equestrian venue.
He also attended table tennis, rugby sevens, swimming and futsal competitions, and took part in a medal presentation.
Competitions are being held across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, alongside a cultural and educational programme for the young athletes and the Senegalese public.
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Photo credit: Comité Olympique Monégasque
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Two young athletes represent Monaco at historic Dakar Youth Olympics – Monaco Life
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