The first to arrive was President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, who touched down at Kigali International Airport in Kanombe. His arrival was marked by a warm welcome from the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe.
President Kiir’s visit is yet another testament to the enduring relationship between Rwanda and South Sudan. As the current chair of the East African Community (EAC), President Kiir’s frequent engagements with Rwanda, including his visit in February 2024, highlight the deepening ties within the region.
Following closely, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau arrived in Kigali, greeted by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa. A light rain shower, a brief respite after days of dry weather, accompanied his arrival.
The bond between Rwanda and Guinea-Bissau is steeped in history, with numerous agreements in place, including those related to trade, education, tourism, and air transport, further solidifying their long-standing relationship.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces of Uganda, also arrived in Kigali to represent Uganda at the inauguration. His reception by his Rwandan counterpart, Gen Mubarakh Muganga, reflects the close military ties that bind the two nations.
Adding to the growing list of dignitaries, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe arrived in Kigali, where he was welcomed by Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The relationship between Rwanda and Zimbabwe has flourished under the leadership of both Kagame and Mnangagwa, evidenced by high-level visits and the signing of over 26 cooperation agreements across various sectors, including education, energy, justice, economy, social welfare, and culture.
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, representing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, was also among the distinguished guests. Upon his arrival, he was received by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette. The strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and Senegal, highlighted by the opening of the Rwandan Embassy in Senegal in 2011 and a series of agreements, including cultural cooperation dating back to 1975, are further strengthened by his presence.
Ivory Coast is represented by its Vice President, Tiemoko Meyliet Koné, who arrived on Saturday evening. He was also welcomed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette. His attendance at the inauguration scheduled on Sunday 11th August 2024, signifies the continued collaboration between Rwanda and Ivory Coast, as both nations look forward to furthering their mutual interests under President Kagame’s leadership.
These leaders are among the many dignitaries expected to attend President Kagame’s inauguration, symbolizing the global recognition and support for Rwanda’s continued progress under his leadership.
As the new millennium approached, anxiety gripped the world, driven by religious prophecies, technological fears, and a collective sense of uncertainty.
Certain religious groups and individuals, armed with biblical convictions or other religious teachings, were particularly inclined to make extreme preparations for the end of the world.
In countries including Rwanda and elsewhere people with fervent beliefs sold valuables, including land and homes, at bargain prices, convinced they would no longer need them after the supposed end.
Many donated their proceeds to religious organizations, paid off debts, or disposed of material possessions they believed would become meaningless in the face of an imminent apocalypse.
As New Year’s Eve of 1999 approached, a palpable sense of dread enveloped the globe. People stayed awake, waiting in confusion and fear for the unknown.
The clock ticking toward midnight on December 31, 1999, symbolized more than just the arrival of a new year—it was seen as the harbinger of apocalyptic doom.
Predictions of the end of time had circulated for years, fueled by religious interpretations, technological concerns, and societal anxiety. But when the clock struck midnight, the world did not end.
The feared doomsday proved to be nothing more than a phantom, leaving the world to grapple with the psychological, social, and economic aftermath of its own self-imposed panic.
When the year 2000 arrived without significant disruptions, those who had made drastic decisions based on doomsday fears, were left to face the consequences.
Financial hardships followed for many who had sold properties at subsidized prices or made irreversible financial choices. The episode remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of panic-driven decisions rooted in unfounded fears.
The roots of the millennium panic can be traced to a convergence of religious, technological, and cultural factors. For many, the year 2000 represented a significant milestone in biblical prophecy.
Edgar C. Whisenant, author of The End: Why Jesus Could Return by A.D. 2000, was among the most vocal proponents of the idea that the second coming of Christ was imminent.
His book resonated with millions who believed the world was nearing its final days, meticulously interpreting scripture to pinpoint the year 2000 as the likely time for Jesus’ return.
The religious anticipation extended beyond mainstream Christianity. Figures like Ben Ammi Ben-Israel, founder of the Black Hebrew Israelite religion, also predicted the end would occur in 2000, believing it would mark the beginning of divine justice and redemption for the chosen people.
The sense of urgency and anticipation was palpable, with communities preparing for what they believed would be a momentous, albeit catastrophic, event.
Even the academic and technological worlds were not immune to the apocalyptic fervor. The approach of the year 2000 brought with it the Y2K bug, a technological panic based on the fear that computer systems worldwide would malfunction when their clocks rolled over from ’99’ to ’00,’ interpreting the year 2000 as 1900.
Books like The Millennium Bug: How to Survive the Coming Chaos by Michael S. Hyatt capitalized on these fears, presenting doomsday scenarios where technology would fail, bringing modern civilization to its knees.
As the year 2000 drew closer, panic spread across the globe. Governments, corporations, and individuals scrambled to prepare for what they believed could be the end.
In the United States, President Bill Clinton established the President’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion, a task force dedicated to ensuring critical systems were Y2K compliant.
Companies spent billions on upgrades and contingency plans, while the public stockpiled essentials, bracing for a world where basic services might suddenly vanish.
Religious communities were particularly active in their preparations. Churches held vigils, prayer meetings, and other gatherings, where believers sought divine protection from the impending apocalypse. Some made pilgrimages to holy sites, hoping to be in the right place when the end came.
The media played a very significant role in fueling the panic, with news outlets running stories on various doomsday scenarios, from nuclear war to natural disasters, that could be triggered by the turn of the millennium.
Yet, as midnight struck on December 31, 1999, nothing happened. The Y2K bug turned out to be a minor glitch rather than the catastrophic event many had feared.
Planes did not fall from the sky as had been earlier anticipated, power grids did not fail, and financial markets did not collapse. The apocalyptic prophecies, too, proved unfounded. Jesus did not return, the chosen people were not delivered, and the new millennium began much like any other year, with fireworks, celebrations, and the usual mix of hope and uncertainty.
In the aftermath of the non-event, there was a collective sense of bewilderment. For those who had genuinely believed in the prophecies, the absence of catastrophe was disorienting. Some felt betrayed, questioning why the signs they had so carefully interpreted had not come to pass.
As explored in Leon Festinger’s When Prophecy Fails, people often respond to the failure of their expectations by doubling down on their beliefs rather than abandoning them.
This was evident after the year 2000, with some believers reinterpreting the events, suggesting that the world had been given a temporary reprieve or that the true end was still to come.
The economic impact of the millennium panic was significant. The billions spent on Y2K preparations, while arguably necessary to avoid potential disruptions, represented a massive expenditure driven largely by fear.
Companies that had invested heavily in Y2K compliance found themselves with surplus supplies and systems that, in many cases, were never needed. The public, too, was left with stockpiled goods, a reminder of the hysteria that had gripped the world.
Culturally, the year 2000 marked a turning point in how society viewed apocalyptic predictions. The panic preceding the new millennium was a testament to the power of prophecy, fear, and the human tendency to expect the worst.
It also highlighted the complexities of navigating a world where technological and religious anxieties can converge to create a perfect storm of fear.
As we moved into the 21st century, the lessons of the millennium panic remained, reminding us that while the future is uncertain, it is not something to be feared, but rather something to be appreciated and approached with caution, preparation, and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Unfortunately, some callous acts in the region that came in the aftermath of this hysteria left sad marks and scars that may never be healed in the world’s history.
About 130km from the Northern border of Rwanda and Uganda in Kanungu district, a self-styled high priestess Credonia Mwerinde had told her followers that the world was going to end on December 31, 1999 but when this did not happen, the cult leader and her accomplices decided to end it their way.
On March 16, 2000, over 600 cult members and their families were herded into a church hall named the Ark, in reference to the biblical Noah’s ark, all doors and windows were boarded up and nailed shut, and it was set ablaze.
Many of Credonia’s followers and even some of the renegade Catholic clerics believed she had spiritual powers following her claims to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary who directed her to spread the message of strict adherence to the 10 Commandments to avoid apocalyptic damnation.
It floated a Rwf5billion corporate bond, marking a significant milestone as the first ever Agri Business SME to hit the market.
Mahwi Grain Millers join the stock market to provide investors with a broader range of opportunities to diversify their portfolios, invest in different sectors, and participate in the country’s economic growth.
To achieve this, the company’s annual turnover surged from Rwf78 million in 2021 to Rwf3 billion in 2022, Rwf75.7 billion in 2023, and Rwf15 billion in 2024.
This remarkable growth underscores the opportunities available to investors who engage with Rwanda’s stock market, particularly in sectors as fundamental as agribusiness.
Chantal Habiyakare, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Mahwi Grain Millers, expressed confidence in the company’s growth and the opportunities available to investors.
“This is a very big source of growth, and as investors, your money will be safe with us. Being involved in the agriculture sector, we cannot go wrong,” she affirmed.
Her statement highlights the stability and potential of investing in Rwanda’s agribusiness sector, a sentiment that is likely to resonate with both local and international investors.
This development is part of a broader trend that is transforming the country’s economic landscape, driving growth, and offering new opportunities for investors.
Rwanda’s stock market has been steadily expanding, with an increasing number of companies opting to go public. This trend reflects the maturation of the financial sector in Rwanda, where the stock exchange is becoming a critical platform for raising capital, fostering economic growth, and promoting financial inclusion.
The addition of Mahwi Grain Millers to the exchange is particularly noteworthy, as it highlights the vital role that the agribusiness sector plays in the country’s economy.
The listing on the stock exchange also aligns with global economic dynamics that increasingly influence local markets.
As Thapelo Tsheole, CEO of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), noted, “As more companies list on the Rwanda Stock Exchange, we see a positive cycle where businesses gain access to capital, investors grow their portfolios, and the economy as a whole.”
The CMA’s role in facilitating these listings is crucial to ensuring that the market remains accessible and beneficial to all stakeholders.
Rwanda’s stock market has become an essential tool for economic development. The increasing number of listings sends a strong signal to both domestic and international investors about the stability and potential of Rwanda’s economy.
The government has also recognized the importance of a robust stock market as part of its broader economic strategy.
Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the Minister for Trade and Industry, highlighted Mahwi Grain Millers’ role in ensuring food security and stabilizing the economy, particularly during challenging periods.
“Upon realizing that the company had the capacity to continue processing their products to support the food value chain, we provided the necessary grants, and the market has stabilized in a short time,” Dr. Ngabitsinze explained.
This support reflects the government’s commitment to bolstering sectors that are critical to both economic stability and growth. The growing activity on the Rwanda Stock Exchange also has significant implications for the personal development of investors.
With more companies listing, individual investors have greater opportunities to diversify their investments and build wealth. This process not only contributes to their financial growth but also enhances financial literacy, empowering more Rwandans to actively participate in the country’s economic development.
The interconnectedness of the global economy further underscores the importance of strengthening local financial markets. Decisions made in major economic centers, such as those by the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., can have far-reaching impacts, even in Kigali.
For instance, the U.S. economy, valued at $26 trillion and accounting for nearly 25% of global output, plays a significant role in shaping global financial trends. Recent market fluctuations in Japan and Europe, spurred by developments in the U.S., demonstrate how global economic dynamics can affect local markets.
In this context, the listing of companies like Mahwi Grain Millers on the Rwanda Stock Exchange is not just a local success story but a strategic move that positions Rwanda to better navigate and benefit from global economic trends.
As the stock market grows, so too does Rwanda’s ability to attract investment, drive economic development, and empower individual investors.
The listing of Mahwi Grain Millers on the Rwanda Stock Exchange is a key milestone in the ongoing development of Rwanda’s financial markets.
It reflects the growing strength and resilience of the economy, offers new opportunities for investors, and highlights the government’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive financial sector.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which escalated in April 2023, has claimed more than 15,500 lives to date. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this war has led to a massive displacement crisis, with over 6.1 million people displaced within Sudan and more than 1.5 million seeking refuge in other countries.
UNHCR’s Rwanda branch reports a significant increase in Sudanese asylum seekers in Rwanda in 2024. As of August 6, 2024, 89 Sudanese refugees had arrived, including 58 individuals from 17 families living in Kigali and another 31 individuals from 20 families residing in the Mahama Refugee Camp in Kirehe District.
Among the 718, 354 individuals are from 197 families settling in Kigali and 364 individuals from 209 families residing in the Mahama camp.
In addition to these refugees, Rwanda received over 200 students from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan at the end of 2023. These students continued their education at the University of Rwanda, with the partnership expected to extend to over 7,000 students. Prior to this, Rwanda had also welcomed refugees from Afghanistan.
Rwanda is currently home to over 130,000 refugees, many of whom have been in the country for more than a decade. Approximately 90% of these refugees reside in camps such as Kiziba, Nyabiheke, Kigeme, Mugombwa, and Mahama, while others live in various urban areas.
Rwanda has consistently emphasized the need for long-term solutions to the refugee and migrant crisis. In recent years, the country received thousands of migrants evacuated from camps in Libya, with 90% of them resettled in other continents. These migrants have come from various countries, including Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Speaking to the youth during the 14th cohort of the Indangamirwa civic training program on August 9, 2024, Dr. Bizimana traced the roots of ongoing regional insecurity to the 1885 Berlin Conference and the subsequent formalization of borders on May 14, 1910, by Belgium, Britain, and Germany.
These decisions, he explained, led to the dismemberment of Rwanda, with several provinces, including Masisi, Rutshuru, Fizi, and Uvira, being annexed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and others to Uganda.
“These provinces were given to DRC even though they were inhabited by Rwandans. The people living in those provinces continued to speak Kinyarwanda because it was their language,” Dr. Bizimana stated. He further emphasized that “the consequences are evident, as in the eastern part of DRC, some of these residents are treated as outsiders, labeled as Rwandans, even though they are Congolese.”
This colonial redrawing of borders stripped Rwanda of territories that were predominantly inhabited by Rwandans.
Despite becoming Congolese citizens, these communities in eastern DRC have been subjected to persistent violence and discrimination, often labeled as outsiders simply because of their language and cultural ties to Rwanda.
Dr. Bizimana underscored that the violence against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in eastern DRC is deeply rooted in these historical injustices. “This was the first harmful decision made by the Europeans. Had these provinces remained part of Rwanda, the current issues of injustice, killings, and hate ideologies in eastern Congo would likely not exist today,” he asserted.
The colonial-era decision to fragment Rwanda created deep-seated divisions that continue to manifest in the form of ethnic discrimination, killings, and systemic exclusion of these communities from leadership and governance in the DRC.
Ambassador Vincent Karega, Rwanda’s former representative in Kinshasa, reinforced this perspective by drawing parallels between the current governance challenges in the DRC and Rwanda’s past struggles from 1959 to 1994.
“The problem is that DRC is poorly governed, with divisions similar to those we experienced, where ethnic discrimination led to the exclusion of certain groups, particularly the Kinyarwanda-speaking community, to prevent them from competing for leadership positions,” Karega noted.
The Kinyarwanda-speaking population in the DRC is diverse, consisting of groups who settled there before colonization, those brought by Belgium during colonial rule, and Rwandan refugees who fled from 1959 onwards due to escalating insecurity. Despite a 1971 law granting these refugees Congolese citizenship, they have continued to face systemic violence and mistrust, a direct legacy of the colonial border realignments.
Dr. Bizimana’s remarks highlight the far-reaching consequences of colonialism, particularly how the arbitrary partitioning of Rwanda has fueled long-standing regional insecurity.
“The legacy of colonialism continues to cast a long shadow over the region,” Dr. Bizimana observed, noting that the scars of history are still deeply felt in eastern DRC, where violence, discrimination, and instability persist.
Had the territorial integrity of Rwanda been preserved, the region might have experienced a different trajectory- one of greater unity and peace.
UGHE stands as one of Rwanda’s premier institutions. Founded in 2015 with the support of Partners in Health (PIH), UGHE has grown into a beacon of global health education in Rwanda. PIH, established by the late Dr. Paul Farmer in 2022, was bolstered by contributions from the Cummings Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Government of Rwanda.
UGHE operates two campuses: one in Kigali, focusing on postgraduate programs in Global Health Delivery, and another in Butaro, closely integrated with the Butaro Hospital, a cancer treatment center inaugurated by President Kagame in January 2019. Recently, Times Higher Education ranked UGHE as the eighth top university in Sub-Saharan Africa.
On the same day, President Kagame also met with Lt. Gen. Huang Xucong, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Central Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, who was on a four-day official visit to Rwanda. Their discussions focused on strengthening the existing cooperation between the Rwanda Defence Force and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
This meeting followed earlier engagements where Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda, and Chief of Defence Staff of the RDF, Gen MK Mubarakh, hosted Lt. Gen. Huang Xucong and his delegation on Thursday. Their talks also centered on enhancing military cooperation.
During their visit, the Chinese delegation paid their respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. They also toured the Campaign Against Genocide Museum and the Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Eastern Province among others.
As he neared his 40th birthday, just three months away, the French climber took his final “dance” at the Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue on Thursday, receiving thunderous applause from thousands of local fans.
Despite finishing seventh in the men’s speed climbing final with a time of 5.26 seconds, falling short of his medal aspirations, the outcome seemed secondary.
In the adrenaline-pumping “100-meter dash” of sport climbing, Mawem, the oldest competitor ascending the 15-meter wall, showed no signs of age diminishing his hunger and desire to succeed.
{{INSPIRING THE WORLD}}
The speed climbing final featured a host of young prodigies, including 18-year-old American climber Sam Watson, who broke his own world record in the qualifiers with a new time of 4.74 seconds.
Amidst these youthful stars, Mawem stood out not as a relic of the past, but as a symbol of enduring passion.
During a highly competitive qualification round on Tuesday, Mawem surpassed his personal best three times, narrowly securing his place in the final by edging out 22-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Tkach by a mere hundredth of a second.
“It’s a moment of unbelievable joy,” said the French climber emotionally. “It was a beautiful duel, one I wasn’t really favored to win, and I managed to grab it at the end by 1/100th of a second.”
“I grew up with this sport bit by bit. It’s truly a privilege to be here now with all these inspiring young athletes whom I’ve also inspired,” he said. “To finish my career in the final with them is crazy. It’s as crazy for them as it is for me.”
Although Mawem ultimately fell to Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo, who went on to become the new Olympic champion in the event, his presence at the Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue was a monumental success.
“Because there aren’t many places-just 14 spots in the whole world-you had to punch your ticket. I punched my ticket, and now I know I’m part of the top eight,” Mawem said.
He set the event’s first Olympic record of 5.45 seconds during the speed qualifications at Tokyo 2020, but an injury, a ruptured lower biceps tendon, sidelined him from competing in the final.
Following the Tokyo Games, Mawem faced a long and challenging recovery process, undergoing surgery and staying away from climbing for several months. When he finally returned, he had to rebuild his strength and skills from scratch.
“It took me a year to get back to my level, and then I had to claw my way back to the international level,” he recalled.
His comeback was affirmed at a speed climbing qualification tournament in Rome in September 2023, where he outperformed Europe’s best to secure his Olympic ticket.
For Mawem, even when the Olympic fervor fades and life returns to normal, his love for climbing remains undeterred.
“Climbing brings me balance-a moment in which I detach from work and family. A moment in which I don’t think about the future or all the things I still have to do. In simple words, it is my moment,” he said.
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Bassa Mawem was 15 when he discovered climbing, a passion he shared with his brother, Mickael Mawem. The sport then became an anchor for both of them.
The older brother, Bassa, felt a twinge of regret not having his brother, also a professional climber, join him in the Paris Olympics, as he saw the 34-year-old Mickael as a source of motivation.
Their story from Tokyo did not repeat itself. At the last Olympics, the Mawem brothers both represented France. Mickael qualified at the world championships in 2019, while Bassa secured his spot three months later at an Olympic qualification tournament.
However, Mickael, the 2023 world boulder champion, failed to qualify for Paris at the continental combined qualifications in Laval and the Olympic qualifying series in Shanghai.
Yet, Mickael became part of Bassa’s Olympic journey, cheering alongside their family and even performing the dramatic countdown ritual with three strikes on the ground to kick off the speed climbing final.
It took a long time for the brothers to join the French national team (Bassa in 2011, Mickael in 2014), but their dedication paid off. Bassa specialized in speed climbing, becoming national champion, setting a French record with a time of 5.52 seconds, winning silver at the 2018 world championships, and topping the world rankings in 2018 and 2019.
Mickael, less powerful yet more technical, excelled in bouldering. “I love the diversity of training in bouldering, and it’s always changing. There are many things to work on-it’s always new. I love it,” said Mickael.
Bassa emphasized their perseverance, noting that they started from humble beginnings without a climbing background in their family.
“We started from nothing, and we fought. We stuck to our methodology: strength. Since the beginning, even in our cellar, we worked on strength, strength, strength… We stuck to it, and that’s how we managed to reach the elite level,” said Bassa.
The brothers, known as “Les Freres Mawem,” have launched their own line of T-shirts and climbing gear, and opened a climbing gym in Colmar, Alsace, close to their climbing roots.
“We left Alsace due to a lack of resources for a high-level career, but we returned to share the skills and knowledge we’ve gained,” Bassa explained.
“Our next goal is to allow young people to experience everything we have experienced. We hope that our athletes, one day, will compete in Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032,” he said.
Adams made these remarks on Thursday at an IOC daily briefing at Paris 2024, addressing questions from journalists in the wake of a recent scandal involving the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The scandal was exposed by a statement issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Wednesday, which revealed that USADA had allowed U.S. athletes who had violated anti-doping rules to compete without disclosing their violations or imposing any sanctions.
“Obviously, we’re working with all of our stakeholders and continue to work with all our stakeholders to ensure we have a good and robust world anti-doping system,” said Adams.
But he isn’t just an Olympic champion – he’s also a rapper, a side of him that remained largely unknown until his recent victory. In his song “Changba Street Kid,” which went viral online, he raps, “They say I am too crazy and tell me to behave, but I don’t care what they say to me…” Released in July, just before the Paris Olympics, Long not only composed the track but also performed it himself.
“It’s really incredible; he is a diver and a rapper. How does he balance these two things?” one of the 2,000 comments on his song marveled.
On Friday, Long made a memorable appearance at Champions Park, a venue where fans could meet and interact with Olympic medalists. As the only Chinese athlete present that day, he immediately captivated the crowd. Wearing the Chinese delegation’s uniform and a pair of sunglasses, Long confidently took the stage, moving to the rhythm of the live music. With his hands raised high, he matched the beat perfectly, energizing the atmosphere.
Under the Eiffel Tower, Long stood tall, arms wide open as if embracing the world. “In my impression, Chinese athletes are usually shy. Long is such a different guy,” a local fan remarked.
What that fan might not know is where Long comes from. He hails from Changba Street in Rongjiang County, in China’s southwestern Guizhou Province – a place also known for the famous Village Super League (VSL).
The VSL, also known as “Cun Chao,” quickly became a hit both in China and globally in 2023 for its grassroots spirit and festive atmosphere.
Beyond football, Rongjiang has also become a hub for gymnastics in Guizhou, with athletes from the area winning several world championships in gymnastics and rock climbing in recent years.
Long grew up surrounded by this sporting environment. Born in 2003, he began training in gymnastics at the Rongjiang County Children’s Amateur Gymnastics School at the age of four. At seven, he was selected to the Shijiazhuang City Sports School in Hebei Province, where he switched to diving. By eight, he was already part of the Hebei Province Diving Team.
In his song, Long raps, “I am a kid from Changba Street… If I fall into a trap, I have to work harder. I’m not afraid.”
With a gold medal around his neck and a hit song to his name, Long Daoyi’s story has only just begun. As he continues to dive into new challenges and rap his way into the hearts of fans, the world will be watching closely – eager to see where his unique talents take him next.
Knighton tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone during an out-of-competition test on March 26. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) opted not to impose a suspension, attributing the positive result to contaminated meat. This decision allowed Knighton to compete in the Paris Olympics qualifiers, a move that has sparked widespread concern.
China’s Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) publicly questioned USADA’s handling of the case, calling for an independent investigation into what it described as a serious breach of the World Anti-Doping Code and a potential cover-up of anti-doping violations.
Olympic regulations require all athletes to pass through the mixed zone for media interviews before leaving the venue. However, after the 200-meter final, Knighton was absent, leaving reporters waiting in vain. His absence stood in stark contrast to his teammate, Kenneth Bednarek, who won the silver medal and spoke openly with the media. Even Noah Lyles, who had tested positive for COVID-19, made a masked appearance to share his experiences.
When asked about Knighton’s whereabouts, a U.S. team staff member informed reporters that Knighton had already left and did not stop for interviews. Fellow journalists reported that Knighton hurried past the American TV reporters’ interview area without saying a word.
“Knighton’s silence is particularly striking given the ongoing scrutiny of doping practices,” commented one pundit. “Questions remain as to why the typically outspoken Knighton has chosen not to address the media, leaving the doping controversy surrounding him unresolved in the public eye.”
Olympic regulations require all athletes to pass through the mixed zone for media interviews before leaving the venue. However, after the 200-meter final, Knighton was absent, leaving reporters waiting in vain. His absence stood in stark contrast to his teammate, Kenneth Bednarek, who won the silver medal and spoke openly with the media. Even Noah Lyles, who had tested positive for COVID-19, made a masked appearance to share his experiences.
When asked about Knighton’s whereabouts, a U.S. team staff member informed reporters that Knighton had already left and did not stop for interviews. Fellow journalists reported that Knighton hurried past the American TV reporters’ interview area without saying a word.
“Knighton’s silence is particularly striking given the ongoing scrutiny of doping practices,” commented one pundit. “Questions remain as to why the typically outspoken Knighton has chosen not to address the media, leaving the doping controversy surrounding him unresolved in the public eye.”
