Nigeria has etched its name into the history books at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. On Sunday, sprinters Rosemary Nwankwo and Gift Bright secured gold medals in the women’s and men’s 100m events, respectively, marking the first time any nation has won both races at the same edition of the Youth Olympics.
Seventeen-year-old Rosemary Nwankwo dominated the track, finishing with a time of 11.16 seconds to become the third Nigerian to claim the women’s 100m Youth Olympic title. She was joined on the podium by Arwa Ali of the UAE, who took silver in 11.41 seconds, and Qatar’s Dana Salem, who secured bronze in 11.48 seconds.
In the men’s category, Gift Bright delivered a stunning performance, clocking a personal-best time of 10.28 seconds. This victory is significant as Bright becomes the first Nigerian to ever win the men’s 100m title at the Youth Olympic Games. He finished ahead of China’s Zhang Hangyu, who took silver at 10.57 seconds, and Poland’s Szymon Dolega, who finished with bronze in 10.61 seconds.
The journey to the podium was not without its hurdles. Gift Bright revealed that he had been battling a painful injury leading up to the competition. “The toughest thing here has been my injury,” he shared. Despite his fear and the physical pain, he found relief on race day, noting that he felt no pressure when it mattered most.
For Rosemary Nwankwo, the race was a moment of pure focus and faith. Reflecting on her golden run, she credited her success to staying in her lane and keeping her composure. She is already looking ahead to the future of Nigerian athletics, confidently stating, "I want to tell you guys that at the next (Youth) Olympics, expect Nigeria to win it again."
With these historic wins, Nigeria has solidified its status as a powerhouse in youth sprinting on the global stage. These victories serve as a massive morale booster for the nation’s sporting future.
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