Elisha Zimba has secured a historic bronze medal for Zambia at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, becoming the first judoka from his country to stand on the podium in the competition’s history. The 17-year-old athlete claimed the third-place finish in the under-55 kg category on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Victory at the Dakar Expo Center
Competing at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio, Zimba faced Saudi Arabian judoka Hebah Mutaz in the bronze medal match. After a series of offensive exchanges, Zimba executed a decisive seoi-otoshi projection, earning an ippon to end the contest, as reported by africaho.bj. The win marked a milestone for the Zambian judo program, which has sent a six-person delegation to the Games across judo, badminton, swimming, and athletics.
Reflecting on his performance, Zimba expressed his excitement regarding his international debut. “I am very excited because it is my first medal for the international Games,” the athlete stated. “I am very excited to win this medal because I am very happy.”
Path to the Podium
Originally from Lusaka, Zimba began training in judo at age 11 after accompanying his brother to a session. His development has been heavily influenced by senior Zambian judoka Simon Zulu, who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Zimba credits Zulu as a primary mentor who encouraged his pursuit of international competition. “My inspiration is Simon Zulu because he told me that I could do it,” Zimba said. “You can do it because people are always doing it.”
Context of Zambian Judo
Zimba’s success adds to Zambia’s modest history at the Youth Olympic Games. Before the 2026 edition in Dakar, the nation had secured four medals across all previous iterations of the event, consisting of one gold, two silver, and one bronze. The Zambian National Olympic Committee officially presented the six-member delegation during a ceremony in Lusaka on October 25, 2026, ahead of their departure for Senegal.
In the same under-55 kg category at the Dakar Games, the other bronze medal was awarded to Tugskhuslen Tungalag of Mongolia. The gold medal match saw Azerbaijan’s Ibrahim Talibov defeat Croatia’s Jona Zvorc to take the top spot on the podium. The judo competition in Dakar was scheduled to continue through November 3, 2026.
