Former U.S triple jumper and track athlete Erica McLain thinks local athletes have the talent to rival their regional counter-parts.

The 25-year old, who competed at four world youth championships and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, was in Rwanda for a week alongside colleague Griffin Mueller, also an athlete at Stanford University.

The duo donated running shoes (spikers) worth Rwf 700.000 to the National Olympic committee and also promised to use their connections so that athletes get good coaches.

"They are a lot talented kids who can compete favorably against their east African counter parts.

"All they need is the right coaches to develop their talent,’ Mclain, now an athletes trainer said.

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