Rising Lionesses get a heroes' welcome at JKIA after Dakar 2026 rugby sevens gold
Kenya's girls' rugby sevens team returned home on Thursday evening to drums, song and dance after winning the country's first Olympic team-sport gold.
In short: Kenya's Rising Lionesses, the girls' rugby sevens team that won gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Thursday evening, 5 November 2026, to a carnival welcome.
Kenya's Rising Lionesses came home to a heroes' welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday evening, three days after beating Australia 17-12 in extra time to win girls' rugby sevens gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Supporters met the team with cheers, traditional Isukuti drums, song and dance, K24 Digital reports. The gold is Kenya's first in an Olympic team sport and, so far, the country's only medal at the Games.
First Lady Rachel Ruto congratulated the team, praising their teamwork, fighting spirit and resilience. The squad is coached by Knight Otuoma.
What comes next for Team Kenya
The rest of Team Kenya is still in Dakar, where athletics, the sport that has produced all 15 of Kenya's earlier Youth Olympic medals, runs from Sunday 8 to Tuesday 10 November. Follow every Kenyan result and the medal table on our Dakar 2026 page.
