UG COACH TO COACH GHANA TEAM AT OLYMPIC GAMES

The University of Ghana Swim Coach Mr. Daniel Opare Okyere will coach the Ghana Swim Team at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The National Swim Team will commence their camping in Tokyo from 2nd July ahead of the Games in Tokyo. The Olympic Games will start from 23rd July to 8th August, 2021.

Mr. Abeiku Jackson and Miss Unilez Takyi who will represent Ghana at the Olympic Games qualified through the universality slots based on the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) point accumulated by the swimmers in 2021.

Mr. Abeiku Jackson who is currently on a year scholarship at the FINA Development Center in Kazan, Russia broke his national record of 53.93secs to set a time of 53.53secs in the Men’s 100m Butterfly during the Golden Orlando International Meet in Croatia in June, 2021. This will be the 21-year-old swimmer's second appearance at the Olympics after his maiden appearance five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Miss. Unilez Takyi who is based in Italy will compete in the 50m Freestyle at the Games. The 17-year-old swimmer is the national record holder of the 50m Freestyle (27.49secs) in Ghana. The record was set during the 7th CANA Africa Zone 2 Swimming Championship hosted by Ghana in March 2020 when she placed 3rd in the event.  

Mr. Daniel Opare Okyere who last coached the National Swim Team at the 13th CANA Junior African Championship in Tunis, Tunisia in 2019 expressed his excitement in representing Ghana at the Olympics and his expectations;

“It is a dream to be at the Olympics and more importantly to represent Ghana. It is a proud moment for me and we are working hard as a team to improve upon our last Olympic performance at Rio 2016. I look forward to learning at Tokyo from other participating countries to broaden my knowledge in the sport and share with my colleague coaches upon my return to improve the sport at the University of Ghana and Ghana.”

On behalf of the University Community, management and staff of the Sports Directorate wish Mr. Daniel Opare Okyere and the National Swim Team safe travel and all the best at the Olympic Games.