Costa Rican athletes posted notable results in judo, fencing, swimming, and triathlon during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, according to larepublica.net.
The delegation’s early performances across multiple sports highlight a competitive showing on the international stage in Senegal.
Jimena Morales Wins Two Matches in Judo
Judoka Jimena Morales finished seventh overall after claiming two victories in her weight class, larepublica.net reported. She defeated Gambia’s Alima Jobe with a yuko following a counterattack and secured a win over Barbados competitor Deann Walton by ippon.
Morales also faced world champion Fátima Supygaliyeva of Kazakhstan, who won by ippon. In her final match, Morales met Jobe again and lost by ippon in golden score.
Fencer Sebastián Acosta placed 10th in the men’s foil event, according to larepublica.net. During the group stage, Acosta earned three victories against opponents from Algeria, Senegal, and Cyprus.
His run included a 5-1 victory over Cyprus representative Aris Kiayias, who entered the match undefeated and ranked sixth in the world. Acosta advanced to the table of 16 in the 10th position before dropping a 15-9 decision to Czech Republic fencer Krystof Novak in the bout for a spot in the top eight.
Andrés Rojas Sets a Personal Best in Swimming
Swimmer Andrés Rojas clocked 1:58.05 in the 200-meter freestyle for a personal best, placing third in his heat and recording the top time among Central American competitors, larepublica.net reported. His times in the 100 and 200 freestyle events placed him among the top five American athletes in those distances.
At 15 years old, Rojas was the youngest competitor in that group, while other Latin American athletes in the category were 17. Teammate Isabella Matarrita placed 13th in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:45.11.
In triathlon, Victoria Arce finished 19th with a time of 1:05:52 on the course in Saly, Senegal, competing under high temperatures, larepublica.net reported. Her time made her the top Central American finisher and fourth among athletes from the Americas.
Costa Rica Competes in Eight Disciplines at Dakar 2026
The Costa Rican Olympic Committee announced that the country’s delegation will compete across eight disciplines at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, graficosdeportivos.com reported. The event marks the first time the Youth Olympics are held on the African continent.
The national team includes competitors in women’s futsal, table tennis, judo, swimming, triathlon, fencing, cycling, and track and field. Alongside Morales, Acosta, Rojas, Matarrita, and Arce, the roster features cyclists Francell Martínez and Matías Calzada, table tennis player Lucca Lobo, athlete Rihana Mora, and the women’s national futsal team.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games run through November 13, providing international competition experience for the delegation.
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