French triathlete Ambre Ugolini secured a ninth-place finish in the women’s event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while the nation’s archers, Maël Lamouret and Aurane Lapouge, posted strong qualifying performances on day seven, equipedefrance.com reported. The 16-year-old Ugolini was the sole French representative in the triathlon, a challenging short-course race held on the beach of Saly, and she battled against 31 international competitors to achieve a top-10 result.
The triathlon format, consisting of a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a 5-kilometer run, demanded a swift and powerful performance. Ugolini, the cadet French champion, exited the water in fifth position and quickly moved to the front of the pack, leading the race for the first few kilometers on the bike. Her strong cycling and an efficient transition left her in a leading group of nine athletes as the competition progressed. After a perfect transition onto the run, Ugolini took the early lead on the foot segment, but was ultimately overtaken as the race neared its conclusion.
Ugolini Finishes Ninth in Olympic Debut
Despite her early dominance, the Hungarian athlete Jazmin Kropko pushed the pace on the run, and Ugolini found herself in seventh place with 2.5 kilometers to go, trailing the eventual gold medalist by one minute. The French triathlete maintained her effort to cross the finish line in 1 hour, 1 minute, and 36 seconds, securing a respectable ninth place. Her performance came two minutes after the podium, marking a significant result for her first Olympic appearance.
“I am happy to have started and to have invested myself during the race, but I am so disappointed not to have won a medal,” Ugolini said after the race. She then shifted to praise the host nation, adding, “It is beautiful to represent my country at these Youth Olympic Games. These are the first Games in Africa, they have organized them masterfully. The bike course was incredible, the run course was atypical. I had fun from A to Z!”
This impressive run in Dakar comes shortly after Ugolini competed at the European Championships in Melilla, where she took fifth place in the mixed relay and 20th place individually. Her recent journey has not been without challenges, as she recovered from a calf injury sustained about a month and a half ago, making her performance in Dakar all the more commendable.
Vincent Luis Praises the Young Athlete
Vincent Luis, who has recently retired, was on hand in Dakar to support Ugolini. He spoke highly of her performance and character. “I am super proud of her,” Luis said. “She played with her own strengths and never let herself be guided by others, that shows her character.”
Luis drew a parallel between Ugolini and other top French triathletes, offering encouragement for the future. “Cassandre Beaugrand or Léo Bergère have never been Youth Olympic champions, and yet they each have an Olympic medal around their neck. What will matter is in the next ten years. The future is promising.” With such praise from a champion, the young triathlete is set to return to training with renewed ambition.
Lamouret and Lapouge Excel in Archery Qualifications
The French archery team also made headlines on day seven, with Maël Lamouret and Aurane Lapouge excelling in the qualification round. Competing under the hot conditions at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade, Lamouret, the reigning French champion and a resident of the INSEP training center, launched his campaign with a score of 687 points, placing him third, just one point behind the leader.
“I am happy, it looks good for the rest of the competition. It was very tense at the beginning, but I managed to calm down by focusing on my daily routine at training,” Lamouret explained. He also highlighted the unique atmosphere of the Youth Olympics, stating, “You can discover other sports and other big names of French sport.” Lamouret, who shares a room in the Olympic village with badminton medalist Mady Sow and Noah Vitel, will face the Ivorian Kouassi Chadrac Yoak in the round of 16 on Tuesday at 13:30 local time (13:30 CEST).
Lapouge Sets Personal Record in Archery
Lamouret’s partner in the archery double, Aurane Lapouge, also had a successful start to her competition. The 16-year-old archer placed 35 arrows in the center of the target—the “10-ring”—and 14 more in the inner “X-ring,” achieving a total of 671 points. This score secured her a fifth-place finish in qualifications and set a new personal record.
Following in the footsteps of Lisa Barbelin, who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lapouge demonstrated her ability to handle the pressure of her first Olympic experience. “When I get on the shooting line, I do heart coherence,” she described her technique. “I inhale for three seconds and exhale for five seconds, that allows me to stay in my bubble. I do it too if I am destabilized during the volleys.”
Lapouge will advance to the round of 16 on Tuesday, facing the Czech Anna Kadlecova at 10:14 local time (10:14 CEST). The French pair’s strong combined performance in the qualification round also secured their spot in the team event, where they will face Slovenia’s Teja Vidmar and Samo Vrbec in the eighth-finals on Tuesday at 12:30 local time (12:30 CEST).
French Medal Hopes Remain High
With archers Lamouret and Lapouge performing strongly, and triathlete Ugolini delivering a solid top-10 result, France’s medal prospects at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games continue to look bright. The nation’s contingent is building momentum after securing its third medal of the Games in badminton via Mady Sow. The upcoming archery matches will be key moments to watch for French supporters eager for more success.
The next significant action for the French archers will be on Tuesday, with Lamouret and Lapouge beginning their individual elimination rounds in the morning, followed by their team match in the afternoon. Their performances will determine how far France can go in these events at the first Games in Africa.
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