The Summer Youth Olympic Games have officially opened in Dakar, Senegal, featuring a 46-athlete Italian delegation that carries significant expectations built on a track record of past Olympic medalists.
Delegation Structure and Past Olympic Precedents
Led by Head of Mission Elisa Santoni, the Italian team includes 19 boys and 27 girls competing across 19 of the 25 sports featured in the fourth edition of the under-18 Games. Italy’s youth program has historically served as a pipeline to senior international success. Previous participants include Rio 2016 judo champion Fabio Basile, Tokyo 2020 boxing bronze medalist Irma Testa, and Simona Quadarella, gold in the 800m freestyle and later Olympic bronze in the same distance at Tokyo 2020. The delegation also features track sprinter Filippo Tortu, weightlifter Mirko Zanni, and Sicilian fencers Marco Fichera and Alberta Santuccio.
A day in Dakar, but make it Olympic 🥇🇸🇳… And the Youth Olympic Games start in 3 DAYS! Let's go! 🦁#Olympics #YouthOlympics #Dakar2026 pic.twitter.com/w7hItfIlwZ
Palermo Talents Open Coastal Rowing and Sailing Campaigns
Sicily is represented in Dakar by two athletes from Palermo: Giorgia Cassina of Società Canottieri Palermo in rowing and Laura Grasso Castagnetta of Cc Roggero di Lauria Palermo in sailing. Cassina debuted in the single coastal rowing event, placing 14th in a qualifying time trial won by Swiss athlete Brendle. German competitor Carolina Guerra Gonzalez secured the eighth and final direct spot into the last 16, finishing nearly 6” ahead of Cassina after the Italian athlete lost ground on the return leg, sending her to the recovery heats.
In addition to her single appearance, Cassina teamed up with Davide Gazzola of Ss Canottieri Corgeno in the mixed double. The pair posted the ninth overall time in a time trial won by Germany ahead of China’s world champions, advancing them to the second recovery time trial after finishing just 93 hundredths of a second behind Austria for the final direct qualification spot.
Upcoming Sailing Schedule at Saly Beach West
While rowing action is underway, the Techno 293 sailing regattas are scheduled to run from November 8 to 12 at Saly Beach West, concluding with the Medal Race on the final day. Grasso Castagnetta, who secured a silver medal at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Wales, prepares to enter competition following a send-off alongside Cassina that included Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla.
“Back in 2014 – the words of Andrea Vitale, president of the Club Ruggero di Lauria – we participated in the Youth Olympics and Laura’s call-up is a reward for her sacrifices and her skill, but also for the great work of our coaches and the care that the Club has always put into growing young people in the values of sport.”
“I am very proud to represent Italy at the Youth Olympics,” Grasso Castagnetta said prior to her departure. “It will be a fundamental experience for my personal and athletic growth.”
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