Elsa Lepinay will carry the French flag at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on October 31, 2026, the French Federation of Baseball and Softball (FFBS) announced. At 16 years old, the young athlete steps into a historic role as Baseball5 makes its official debut on the Youth Olympic program in Dakar, Senegal.
An Unexpected Honor for the French Flag Bearer
The announcement caught the young international competitor completely off guard. While her selection for the French Baseball5 delegation marked a major career milestone, the role of flag bearer added an entirely unexpected layer of responsibility for the multi-sport athlete.
“I was very surprised, it’s really not news I was expecting,” Lepinay stated, according to the FFBS. Beyond the personal pride of leading the delegation, she views the appointment as a direct reflection of trust from her peers and coaches. “In addition to representing France, I also represent the people who proposed my name and who are therefore trusting me to assume this role.”
From Savigny-sur-Orge to the National Team Path
Lepinay’s path to the Olympic stage spans multiple disciplines within the French federation. She started her career with the Savigny-sur-Orge Lions, played for the Sénart Templiers, and currently holds a license with Évry-Courcouronnes. Her athletic resume covers traditional baseball, softball, and Baseball5.
Just prior to her Olympic selection, Lepinay captured the French Division 1 Women’s Softball Championship with the Pharaonnes. Her international experience includes appearances at the 2015U European Softball Championship in 2022 and the 18U tournament in 2025. In Baseball5, she played with the Montigny-le-Bretonneux Chatons Mercenaires before representing France at the Youth World Cup in 2025. Her progression also included time at the official French Baseball5 training center, the Pôle France Baseball5.
Baseball5 Arrives on the Youth Olympic Program
The tournament in Dakar runs from October 30 to November 3, 2026, marking the first time Baseball5 appears at the Youth Olympic Games. The French national team enters the competition on October 30, exactly one day before Lepinay carries the flag at the opening ceremony.
The mixed, urban sport features fast-paced, five-on-five action played without bats or gloves, relying entirely on a rubber ball and bare hands. The FFBS highlighted the discipline’s growth as a key pathway to attract younger athletes to the federation’s clubs and developmental structures.
The Target Set for the Dakar Podium
With preparations underway, Lepinay and her teammates share a direct competitive goal for their arrival in Senegal. The squad aims to challenge the tournament’s top nations and secure a place on the medal podium.
“We have the objective of a medal and showing that France has its place at this competition,” Lepinay said of the team’s ambitions. The French delegation will begin its matches on October 30, 2026, ahead of the official opening ceremony on October 31, 2026.
