Madar (Dakar) - Senegal won two gold medals in beach wrestling at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Saturday 7 November 2026, through Elisabeth Diatta in the women's under-55 kg and Maguette Diop in the men's under-80 kg, Senegalese media reported.
Diatta beat Japan's Reisa Kojima 4-1 in the final to become Senegal's first gold medallist of these Games, according to the Au Senegal website. Diop, 16, then added a second title by winning his final 4-0, according to PressAfrik.
Beach wrestling, making its first appearance at an Olympic event, is being held on 7 and 8 November at Saly Beach West in the Mbour department, with 96 wrestlers from 52 National Olympic Committees competing in eight weight categories, four for men and four for women, according to the same source.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye congratulated the country's three medallists, noting that Matar Diop had "opened the way" with a judo bronze before the two beach wrestling titles won "in front of their home crowd". "Three young Senegalese are bringing our country into Olympic history, with our national sport at the top," he said in a message carried by public broadcaster RTS, adding: "Congratulations to Elisabeth, Maguette and Matar, to their coaches and their families. Senegal is proud of you."
Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event held on the African continent, which President Faye declared open on 31 October in the presence of IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
