The IV Summer Youth Olympic Games concluded in Senegal after 2,700 teenage athletes competed across 25 medal disciplines from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13.
Originally scheduled for 2022, the event was delayed four years by the pandemic, making it the first Olympic competition held on the African continent under the slogan "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates."
Competitions took place across three hubs in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, featuring 205 delegations and 153 medal events for athletes aged 14 to 18.
China topped the medal standings with 34 total medals, including 18 golds, followed by Japan with 29 medals and Russia with 14 medals.
Host nation Senegal secured 12 medals, including five golds, finishing sixth in the overall classification.
Historic Parity in Senegal
The Dakar 2026 Games achieved absolute gender parity across every discipline and event for the first time in Olympic history.
The competition also welcomed a six-member Refugee Olympic Team, expanding the tournament’s scope beyond traditional national delegations.
Previous editions of the Summer Youth Olympics were held in Singapore in 2010, Nanjing in 2014, and Buenos Aires in 2018.
Mexico Sets Record
The Mexican delegation finished in 63rd place with 16 medals—three silver and 13 bronze—surpassing the 12 medals won at the 2018 Buenos Aires Games.
Karen Ríos earned silver in the 45-kilogram beach wrestling category, Carlo Cruz cleared 4.85 meters for silver in the pole vault, and Guillermo Cortés took silver in the -63 kilogram taekwondo division.
Daniel Saborío won two bronze medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle swimming events.
Kendra Duany and Alison Salinas reached the podium in the discus and hammer throw respectively.
Alan Ocampo and Jorge Nieblas won bronze medals to become the first Mexican male boxers to medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
Medal Breakdown
Taekwondo contributed four medals to the Mexican total, featuring individual bronzes for Aline Herrera and Jorge Martínez.
A mixed taekwondo team comprising Guillermo Cortés, Aline Herrera, Jorge Martínez, and Vania Mondragón also secured a third-place finish.
The Mexican baseball 5 team added a historic bronze medal to the delegation’s final count.
The delegation’s 62 athletes competed across 19 disciplines during the two-week event.
Closing on Nov. 13
Competition across the 153 medal events and 10 exhibition sports concluded on Nov. 13.
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