Dakar 2026: Nigeria Celebrates Historic Three-Gold Haul at Youth Olympic Games

Posted : 13 November 2026

Nigeria has recorded its finest performance in Youth Olympic Games history, winning three gold medals at Dakar 2026 in Senegal to establish a new national record at the competition.

The unprecedented achievement surpassed the country's previous best of two gold medals, recorded at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010.

The historic campaign was spearheaded by three outstanding athletes, Bright Gift, Rosemary Nwankwo and Praise Ugoh, whose victories in athletics delivered Nigeria's first men's 100m title, a historic sprint double and its maiden women's 400m gold.

Gift opened Nigeria's golden account by becoming the first Nigerian to win the men's 100m title at the Youth Olympic Games.

He clocked an impressive 10.28 seconds to claim gold and establish a new Games record in the event.

Nwankwo subsequently completed Nigeria's historic sprint double, winning the women's 100m in 11.16 seconds.

Her triumph made Nigeria the first country to win both the men's and women's 100m titles at the same edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

Ugoh then rounded off the remarkable athletics campaign by winning the women's 400m in a personal best of 52.76 seconds.

Her victory also made her the first Nigerian to win the women's 400m title at the competition.

The three gold medals represent a significant milestone for Nigerian sports, highlighting the growing impact of investments in youth development and grassroots talent discovery.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) attributed the achievement to sustained efforts in identifying, nurturing and preparing young athletes through structured development programmes and competitive opportunities.

The Commission said its leadership, comprising Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, remained committed to strengthening grassroots sports development and building a sustainable pipeline of future champions.

A key part of the strategy is the Commission's Invited Junior Athletes Initiative, alongside the National Sports Festival and the hosting of the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta.

These platforms have created opportunities for emerging athletes to demonstrate their abilities, gain international exposure and progress towards representing Nigeria at major competitions.

The Director of Grassroots Sports Development at the Commission, Prince Niyi Beyeku, alongside other key personnel, including Lekan Alabi, was recognised for contributing to the implementation of programmes supporting talent identification and development nationwide.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee, under the leadership of its President, Engr. Habu Gumel, also played a significant role in coordinating and supporting Nigeria's participation at the Games.

The NSC commended the athletes, coaches, technical officials, medical personnel and other members of the delegation for their commitment and contributions to the historic outing.

Beyond the three gold medals, Nigeria's performance in Dakar has provided fresh evidence of the country's potential to develop world-class athletes through sustained investment in youth sports.

The achievement also raises expectations for the next generation of Nigerian athletes as the country continues to strengthen its grassroots development framework.

Nigeria's three-gold medal haul in Dakar marks a historic breakthrough for the country's participation in the Youth Olympic Games. The performances of Gift, Nwankwo and Ugoh have not only established new national milestones but also reinforced the importance of sustained investment in grassroots sports, talent identification and youth development.

Dakar 2026: Nigeria Celebrates Historic Three-Gold Haul at Youth Olympic Games

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