Nigeria has achieved its best ever performance at the Youth Olympic Games. The country won three gold medals at Dakar 2026 in Senegal. This beats the previous record of two golds at the first edition held in Singapore in 2010.
All three gold medals came from athletics. Bright Gift, Rosemary Nwankwo, and Praise Ugoh were the stars of the show. They delivered a sprint double and secured Nigeria's first Youth Olympic title in the women’s 400m.
Gift made history as the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m at the Games. He finished the race in 10.28 seconds, setting a new Games record. Nwankwo followed that up by winning the women’s 100m in 11.16 seconds. This made Nigeria the first country to win both 100m titles in the same edition.
Ugoh added to the medal count by winning the women’s 400m with a personal best of 52.76 seconds. She is the first Nigerian to claim this title.
The National Sports Commission praised the success to grassroots development, talent spotting, and competitive platforms. They highlighted the Invited Junior Athletes Initiative, the National Sports Festival, and the hosting of the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta.
The Commission also commended the Nigeria Olympic Committee, led by President Habu Gumel, for coordinating the country’s efforts. They applauded the athletes, coaches, officials, and medical staff for their hard work.
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