From Dubai to Dakar: Aidan Dumuje-Abili set for Youth Olympics
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Six years after his first international final at the World School Games in 2020, the 15-year-old swimmer will represent Nigeria at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
When Aidan Dumuje-Abili lined up at WSG Dubai 2020, he was eight years old, racing in the U11 category, and competing internationally for the first time.
He didn't make the podium, but he did reach a final and took plenty of encouragement going forward. And this weekend, he’ll swim for Nigeria in Dakar, at the first Olympic event ever held in Africa.
"The moment that really stands out from WSG was my first event, when I qualified for my first final at eight," said Aidan.
"It gave me a taste of competition from all around the world, instead of just one state in Nigeria."
Five events, 22 medals
That first final was the start of a long relationship with the WSG Event Series. Aidan - who attends Grange School - returned for The World School Swim Championships in 2022 (individual), 2023 and 2024 (individual), before representing his school at World School Games Olympia in January.
The medals followed - six golds and a silver in 2022, two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes in 2023, three golds and a silver in 2024, and two golds, two silvers, and a bronze at WSG Olympia 2026.
The one he values most, though, is the Skins title he won at WSG Swim 2024, a demanding knockout race.
"It was one of the hardest events I have ever done," he recalled, "and it's one of the awards I cherish to this day."
Most recently, Aidan featured on Today at the Games, our WSG Olympia 2026 magazine show. Watch his interview on YouTube.
The road to Dakar
Aidan qualified for Dakar 2026 on times set at a national competition and, as Nigeria's "top-ranked junior", earned automatic selection for the national team.
He will race four swimming events at the Youth Olympics - the 50m and 100m Butterfly, and the 50m and 100m Backstroke.
The swimming programme runs from 1–6 November, with Aidan in action on 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th November.
For Aidan, it's the goal he has been chasing since he first started swimming.
"Representing Nigeria at the Youth Olympics has been my dream and my main goal as a junior swimmer," he explained.
"It's something I set for myself at a very young age."
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Everyone at the World School Games Event Series will be following his progress in Dakar, and wishes Aidan the very best of luck!
Follow Aidan's journey on Instagram at @aidandumujeabili
