Ayako Rokkaku to serve as Baseball5 Athlete Role Model at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the selection of women’s baseball star and Baseball5 MVP Ayako Rokkaku as an Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Born in 1991, Rokkaku sits on the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Executive Board as an Athlete Representative. She is a four-time Women's Baseball World Cup winner and a two-time Baseball5 World Cup silver medallist. She earned MVP honours at the Women's Baseball World Cup and the Baseball5 World Cup.

The IOC Athlete Role Models (ARM) programme is a way to connect Olympians with young aspiring athletes. The ARMs provide mentorship, education, and inspiration to help enhance the value and experience of the Youth Olympic Games and to ensure the success of the International Federation and Athlete365 activities.

"I have experienced both success and challenges throughout my career and I want to share those experiences with the next generation," commented Ayako Rokkaku. "As both a player and a coach in Baseball and Baseball5, I have learned the importance of teamwork, resilience, and enjoying the game. I believe I can inspire young athletes not only through my achievements, but also through my journey and mindset.

"I am extremely excited and honoured to be part of Dakar 2026 as an Athlete Role Model," she added. "This is a special opportunity to connect with young athletes from around the world, share experiences, and learn from each other. I am really looking forward to being part of such an inspiring and meaningful event. This opportunity means a lot to me, both as an athlete and as a person. The Olympic Movement has always inspired me, and being able to contribute as an Athlete Role Model is truly meaningful. It is also a chance for me to grow, give back to the sport, and help create a positive impact on young athletes' lives."

Since the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, ARMs have been integral to the Games' success.

These elite athletes and Olympians are on-site to offer their support and advice to the next generation of athletes, offering support at training sessions and victory ceremonies, and cheering from the sidelines.

The ARMs also take part in educational activities and workshops, discussing skills and topics to help development, such as career management, injury prevention, mental preparation and more.

At recent editions of the Youth Olympics, the ARMs have participated in the Inside Sports Sessions, an interactive Q&A session for young athletes to learn directly from first-hand experience.

At Dakar 2026, the IOC selected one ARM to represent each of the 25 competition sports on the programme, and one ARM for each of the 10 engagement sports.