French archer Maël Lamouret secured the nation’s second gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, winning the individual competition at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade, Dicodusport reported.
The 17-year-old, seeded third, defeated Taipei Chinese archer Pin-An Chen 6-4 in a tense final on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the French team claimed its second gold medal of the competition, highlighting a strong performance in the archery events.
Lamouret’s Path to the Podium
Lamouret began his final day of competition by defeating Spanish archer Rodrigo Palomo Sanchez in the quarterfinals. He had taken an early lead, winning the first two sets 3-1 before the match tightened. The French archer secured the victory in the final set.
🦁 #Dakar2026 | 🥇 Maël Lamouret est champion olympique du tir à l'arc ! 🎯 Il s'impose 6 sets à 4 après un duel intense et disputé en finale. 📺 Suivez la compétition en direct sur notre chaîne sport : https://t.co/n3e9Mix5Dk pic.twitter.com/YHMtx2sE9D
In the semifinals, Lamouret faced Egypt’s Ismail Ezzeldin, the second seed. Despite Ezzeldin having the support of the local crowd, Lamouret was dominant, winning 6-2 to advance to the gold medal match.
Lamouret started strongly, winning the first set 2-0 with three perfect 10s and the second set 3-1. Chen fought back to tie the match, but Lamouret regained his form in the fifth set, again scoring three 10s to take a 5-3 lead and ultimately win 6-4, Dicodusport reported.
A Season of Success for the French Archer
Earlier this year, he won a gold medal in the team event at the under-18 European Championships in Rome. The French youth team, known as the “Bleuets,” had a standout performance at that event, winning four titles and seven medals in total.
What’s Next for Lamouret
Lamouret’s competition in Dakar is not yet over. He will partner with Aurane Lapouge in the mixed team event. The pair qualified for the knockout phase after finishing third in the ranking round and are scheduled to play their eighth-final match on Monday at 12:30 local time.
The Youth Olympic Games archery competition concludes on Monday, with the mixed team medals decided.
🦁 #Dakar2026 | 🥇 Maël Lamouret est champion olympique du tir à l’arc ! 🎯 Il s’impose 6 sets à 4 après un duel intense et disputé en finale. 📺 Suivez la compétition en direct sur notre chaîne sport : https://t.co/n3e9Mix5Dk https://t.co/YHMtx2sE9D
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) November 8, 2026
Who Is Maël Lamouret and His Competition Results
Who is Maël Lamouret?
Maël Lamouret is a 17-year-old French archer who won the gold medal in the individual men’s event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. He is the third seed and had previously won gold at the under-18 European Championships in the team event.
Who did Maël Lamouret defeat in the final?
In the final, Lamouret defeated Pin-An Chen of Taipei Chinese. The match ended 6-4 in Lamouret’s favor.
What other events is Maël Lamouret competing in at Dakar 2026?
Lamouret is still in contention for another medal. He will compete in the mixed team event with partner Aurane Lapouge. Their eighth-final match is scheduled for Monday at 12:30 local time.
