Dakar: Forrester Christopher Osei, a Ghanaian Olympic weightlifter, has been named among 31 elite athletes selected as Athlete Role Models for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The selection forms part of preparations for the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to be held from 31 October to 13 November 2026 in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, marking the first Olympic event to be hosted in Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, Osei, who is Ghana's Commonwealth Games gold medallist, will join a list of Olympic champions, medallists, and accomplished stars drawn from 25 competition sports and 10 engagement disciplines. Osei has competed at World Weightlifting Championships across multiple editions and has consistently ranked among Africa's leading weightlifters. He holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and serves as the International Relations Manager for the Ghana Weightlifting Federation. He is also a member and Vice-Chair of the International Weightlifting Federation Athletes' Commission and an advocate for clean sport, athlete education, and governance reform.
The IOC has also named other notable athletes as Athlete Role Models, including Clarisse Agbegnenou from France in judo, St©phane Badji from Senegal in football, Christopher Bak from the USA in rowing, Asunci³n Batista from Spain in beach handball, and many others across various sports. These athletes will mentor young competitors, provide guidance during training sessions, and lead workshops on topics such as career development, injury prevention, and mental preparation.
Kaveh Mehrabini, IOC Athletes' Department Director, explained that the Athlete Role Models will serve as mentors to young athletes, offering guidance and inspiration. He noted that these Olympians represent the very best of Olympism and will help shape the experience of the young athletes competing in Senegal.