Nigeria Makes History With Three Gold Medals at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has recorded its best-ever performance at the Youth Olympic Games, winning three gold medals at the Dakar 2026 edition in Senegal and setting new milestones in the country’s sporting history.
The historic achievement, which surpasses Nigeria’s previous record of two gold medals at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, was powered by outstanding performances from three young Nigerian athletes in athletics.
The National Sports Commission (NSC), in a statement issued on Thursday, described the country’s outing as a remarkable demonstration of the growing impact of grassroots sports development and systematic talent identification.
The gold medals came through Bright Gift, Rosemary Nwankwo and Praise Ugoh, whose performances delivered historic victories in the men’s 100 metres, women’s 100 metres and women’s 400 metres.
Bright Gift emerged champion in the men’s 100m, clocking an impressive 10.28 seconds to become the first Nigerian to win the event at the Youth Olympic Games. His performance also established a new Games record.
Rosemary Nwankwo further strengthened Nigeria’s historic campaign by winning the women’s 100m in 11.16 seconds, making Nigeria the first country to win both the men’s and women’s 100m titles at the same edition of the competition.
Praise Ugoh completed the golden sweep with victory in the women’s 400m, recording a personal best of 52.76 seconds to become the first Nigerian to win the event at the Youth Olympic Games.
The NSC said the achievement reflects deliberate efforts to strengthen grassroots sports, identify promising talents early and provide young athletes with platforms to develop their abilities and compete internationally.
It identified the Commission’s Invited Junior Athletes Initiative, the National Sports Festival and Nigeria’s hosting of the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta as important components of its talent-development strategy.
The Commission also acknowledged the contributions of its leadership, particularly Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, noting their commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of sporting talents.
It further recognised the roles of the Director of Grassroots Sports Development, Prince Niyi Beyeku, and other stakeholders, including Lekan Alabi, in implementing programmes designed to strengthen talent discovery and development nationwide.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee, led by its President, Engr. Habu Gumel, was also commended for its support and coordination of Nigeria’s participation in the competition.
The Commission expressed appreciation to the athletes, coaches, technical officials, medical personnel and support staff whose dedication and preparation contributed to the historic achievement.
Beyond the medals, the NSC said Nigeria’s performance in Dakar represents renewed hope for the future of the country’s sports sector, demonstrating that sustained investment in grassroots development can produce athletes capable of competing and winning at the highest international levels.
The statement was signed by Kola Daniel, Senior Special Assistant on Media, Office of the Director General, National Sports Commission, on November 12, 2026.
