Nigeria’s Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo and Gift Bright have made history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after winning gold medals in the women’s and men’s 100m events.
Nwankwo became the third Nigerian to win the women’s 100m title in Youth Olympic Games history after storming to victory in a wind-assisted time of 11.16 seconds.
The Nigerian sprinter finished ahead of Arwa Ali and Dana Salem to claim gold, having earlier established herself as the fastest athlete across the semi-final heats.
Bright followed with another historic performance, becoming the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m title at the Youth Olympic Games.
The youngster dominated the final in a personal-best time of 10.28 seconds, finishing comfortably ahead of China’s Zhang Hangyu, who clocked 10.57 seconds, while Szymon Dolega took bronze in 10.61 seconds.
The double triumph represents a significant milestone for Nigerian athletics, with both sprinters etching their names into the history of the Youth Olympic Games.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) announced the victories in a statement signed by its Director-General’s Special Assistant on Media, Kola Daniel, on Sunday, November 8.
The Commission said the performances further demonstrated Nigeria’s emerging sprinting talent and strengthened the country’s medal campaign at the continental competition.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
