By Tapiwa Chawagarira
ZIMBABWEAN discus thrower Prudence Kauswa made an impressive mark on the international athletics stage by finishing eighth in the women’s discus throw final at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The 17-year-old Mhangura High School student produced a personal-best throw of 30.02 metres, securing a top-eight finish in a highly competitive field featuring some of the world’s most promising young athletes.
Kauswa’s performance was particularly encouraging given her relatively short journey in the sport, as she only returned to discus throwing two years ago after abandoning it in Grade Five.
Her rise has been marked by steady progress through domestic school athletics competitions, where she demonstrated her potential by winning gold at the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) Inter-Provincial Championships.
That achievement propelled her onto the regional stage and earned her a place on Zimbabwe’s team for the Youth Olympic Games.
Under the guidance of coach Letwin Kudakwashe, Kauswa continued to develop her abilities, culminating in her appearance at the global youth competition in Dakar.
She achieved her eighth-place finish with a series of throws: 29.91m, 29.24m, 30.02m, 28.05m, 27.73m, and 28.56m.
Cyprus’s Marina Hadjicosta won the gold medal with a throw of 53.20m, while Tunisia’s Katr Ennada Jaoued claimed silver with 49.28m. Mexico’s Kendra Silvery Duany Neira completed the podium with a bronze-medal effort of 48.44m.
Beyond the final standings, Kauswa’s achievement represents an important milestone in her developing career, providing her with valuable exposure to international competition and the opportunity to measure herself against some of the world’s best young throwers.
Her journey, however, has not been without challenges. Limited access to training equipment has presented obstacles to her preparation; Mhangura High School reportedly has only one discus available for training, which she must borrow.
At just 17, Kauswa’s performance in Dakar provides a promising foundation for her future and highlights the need for greater investment in school athletics, particularly in field events.
Her emergence is an encouraging sign for Zimbabwean athletics and a reminder of the talent that can be nurtured through schools and grassroots sports programmes.
