SALY, Senegal
Senegal made history Saturday as Elisabeth Diatta and Maguette Diop won the host nation’s first two gold medals in Youth Olympic Games history, securing a remarkable double victory in beach wrestling at Dakar 2026.
Diatta, 16, claimed Senegal’s first gold medal with a dominant 5-1 victory over Japan’s Reisa Kojima in the women’s 55-kilogram beach wrestling final at Saly Beach.
Just 30 minutes later, Diop, also 16, secured gold in the men’s 80-kilogram beach wrestling final by defeating Azerbaijan’s Nihad Suleymanli 4-0, completing the historic double and sending home supporters into jubilant celebrations.
The victories came on the seventh day of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with fans celebrating in scorching afternoon temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Senegal’s president congratulated the country’s medalists in a post shared by the presidency on social media, praising Diatta and Diop for their gold medals alongside two bronze medalists.
Matar Diop earned bronze in judo, while equestrian Eden Kazoum secured bronze in team show jumping as part of Team Africa, according to the presidency.
The two gold medals marked a breakthrough for Senegal in its fourth appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, ending the country’s wait for a gold medal at the competition.
Running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games are the first Olympic event hosted in Africa. More than 2,700 athletes ages 15 to 18 are competing across 25 sports in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
Video and images courtesy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
