Youth Olympics: Nwankwo, Bright Win Historic Gold In Men’s, Women’s 100m

Nigeria made an impressive start to the athletics competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday, winning gold in both the men’s and women’s 100m finals at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop. Rosemary Nwankwo opened the country’s gold-medal account in the women’s 100m, crossing the finish line in 11.16 seconds to claim victory and set a new personal best.

Nigeria’s Rosemary Nwankwo, gold medalist (C), Arwa Ali of the United Arab Emirates (L), silver medalist, and Dana Salem of Qatar (R), bronze medalist, pose on the podium after the women’s 100-meter track and field final at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, held at the Iba Mar Diop Complex (CID Stadium) in Dakar on November 8, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS REMENE / AFP) She finished ahead of Arwa Ali of the United Arab Emirates, who clocked 11.41 seconds, also a personal best, while Dana Salem of Qatar settled for bronze in 11.48 seconds.

The win made Nwankwo the third Nigerian woman to take Youth Olympic 100m gold, following Josephine Omaka at the inaugural Singapore 2010 Games and Rosemary Chukwuma at Buenos Aires 2018. Nigeria’s Rosemary Nwankwo, winner of the women’s 100-meter track and field final at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, poses next to the board at the Iba Mar Diop Complex (CID Stadium) in Dakar on November 8, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS REMENE / AFP) Nigeria’s celebrations continued minutes later as Gift Bright secured another gold medal in the men’s 100m, finishing in a personal-best time of 10.28 seconds.

China’s Zhang Hangyu came second in 10.57 seconds, while Poland’s Szymon Dolega claimed bronze in 10.61 seconds. Speaking after her triumph, Nwankwo said she remained focused on her race despite the significance of the occasion. Nigeria’s Gift Bright, react after winning the men’s 100-meter semifinal at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, held at the Iba Mar Diop Complex (CID Stadium) in Dakar on November 8, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS REMENE / AFP) “There was no pressure on me.

I run my race. I focused on me, and I did it,” she said. “I’ve prayed for this moment, and I did it.” For Bright, the victory was particularly significant after a thigh injury had troubled him in the two weeks leading up to the competition. China’s Hangyu Zhang (L), silver medalist; Nigeria’s Gift Bright (C), gold medalist; and Poland’s Szymon Dolega (R), bronze medalist, pose on the podium after the men’s 100-meter track and field final at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, held at the Iba Mar Diop Complex (CID Stadium) in Dakar on November 8, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS REMENE / AFP) He admitted that the injury had affected his confidence but said he was relieved to compete without pain in the final.

“I want to tell you guys that at the next (Youth) Olympics, expect Nigeria to win it again. We are good sprinters,” he said. We know how to condition ourselves to stay where we are. It’s a very big thing for us.”