Ssengonzi eyes another record-breaking performance in Paris

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Friday: Jesse Ssengonzi - 100m butterfly

Ugandan swimmer Jesse Ssengonzi opens Friday’s action for Uganda on a busy day for some of the country’s representatives at this year’s games in Paris.

Like Gloria Muzito who set a new national record in her heat on Tuesday, July 30, the target is the same for Ssengonzi who will be looking to rewrite his 100m butterfly record of 54.06, set during the 2023 TYR Pro Series in Illinois for the University of Chicago last year.

Ssengozi who holds other multiple national records clocked 54.48 in the same event, as he debuted at the World Aquatics Championship in Doha early this year.

He dives in in the first heat alongside Iraq’s Al-Zinkee Hasan Ali Khaleel, Croatia’s Miljenic Nikola, Montenegro’s Milos Milenkovic, Indonesia’s Joe Kurniawan, Jamaica’s Josh Kirlew, Rwanda’s Osca Cyusa Peyre Mitilla and Yemen’s Abdullah Nasser Yusuf Marwan.

As a youngster Ssengonzi inspired by his late dad Robert Ssengonzi always dreamt of swimming at the Olympics, a dream he fulfils today when he steps on deck at the Paris La Defense Arena.

The three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division Three champion (US) will be eager to leave a mark at the games as other demands of life might not grant him another opportunity to represent at such a level as he will immediately start work with McKinsey and Company as a business analyst after the games according to sources.

“Representing Uganda at the Olympics means a lot to me because it has been a dream of mine to represent Uganda at the highest stage,” Ssengonzi said ahead of his event on August 2.

“I see it as an opportunity to do my best, show all my hard work, and hopefully inspire other Ugandan swimmers to stick with the sport.

“My target is to break the national record and move up as many places as possible with the best time,” the computer science and economics graduate said.

USA's Dressel Caeleb holds the 100m butterfly Olympic record of (49.45) he set during the last games in Tokyo.

On Friday, Uganda’s athletes Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and Martin Magengo Kiprotich also get into the thick of action when they compete in the 10000m final where they claimed silver and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.