Nigeria commenced its participation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a remarkable display in athletics, clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s 100m finals.
Rosemary Nwankwo triumphed in the women’s 100m race, finishing in a time of 11.16 seconds, which also represented a personal best for her. Nwankwo’s win makes her the third Nigerian woman to achieve this feat at the Youth Olympics, following in the footsteps of Josephine Omaka and Rosemary Chukwuma.
Coming in second was Arwa Ali from the United Arab Emirates, who also set a personal best time of 11.41 seconds. Dana Salem of Qatar secured the bronze medal, clocking a time of 11.48 seconds.
Shortly after Nwankwo’s victory, Gift Bright added to Nigeria’s gold tally by winning the men’s 100m final with a personal best of 10.28 seconds. He was followed by China’s Zhang Hangyu, who finished in 10.57 seconds, and Poland’s Szymon Dolega, who claimed bronze with a time of 10.61 seconds.
Reflecting on her win, Nwankwo expressed that she felt no pressure during the race, attributing her success to focus and preparation. Bright, on the other hand, highlighted the significance of his victory, especially after dealing with a thigh injury prior to the competition.
Both athletes are optimistic about Nigeria’s potential in future competitions, with Bright confident in the skills of Nigerian sprinters.
