Dakar 2026: Nigeria records best-ever Youth Olympics outing - Punch Newspapers

Nigeria has recorded its best-ever performance at the Youth Olympic Games, winning three gold medals at Dakar 2026 in Senegal to surpass its previous best of two golds at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010.

All three came in athletics through Bright Gift, Rosemary Nwankwo and Praise Ugoh, delivering a sprint double and a first Youth Olympic title for Nigeria in the women’s 400m.

Gift became the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m at the Games, clocking 10.28 seconds to set a new Games record. Nwankwo then took the women’s 100m in 11.16 seconds, making Nigeria the first country to win both 100m titles at the same edition.

Ugoh completed the haul by winning the women’s 400m in a personal best of 52.76 seconds, the first Nigerian to claim the title.

The National Sports Commission credited the success to grassroots development, talent identification and competitive platforms. It pointed to its Invited Junior Athletes Initiative, the National Sports Festival and the hosting of the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta.

The Commission also praised the Nigeria Olympic Committee, led by President Habu Gumel, for coordinating the country’s participation, and applauded the athletes, coaches, officials and medical staff.

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