Youth Olympic Games: The historic gold for Senegal

Elisabeth Diatta grabs her opponent quickly. The Japanese Kojima Reisa fights back and tries to push the Senegalese out of the ring. The sand swirls as the two young women fight for every inch, but Diatta doesn't let herself be thrown off balance. She breaks free from her opponent's grip, counterattacks and throws her to the ground with a targeted hip throw.

Then there's no stopping him: Diatta throws his arms in the air, beams all over his face, jumps up for joy and lets himself fall onto the sand. She won. And what's more, the 16-year-old made history.

With her victory in beach wrestling against the Japanese Kojima Reisa, Diatta won the first gold medal for the host country Senegal at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday. And that too in beach wrestling, one of the most popular and traditional sports in the West African country.

The day after the victory, Diatta's voice is hoarse. She can't talk much, her voice is completely gone. The exertion of the last few days, the exhilaration of joy and the high physical and mental performance during the games are taking their toll. But she is proud of her achievement, she still expresses it.

Diatta has not only achieved a historic success in sport. Their victory gives Senegal international sporting reputation and at the same time sends a signal in their own country. Because wrestling is much more than just a sport here. Laamb, as traditional wrestling is called in Wolof, is a national sport and deeply rooted in Senegalese culture. Whether in official arenas or on the beach, as soon as a free area of ​​sand opens up, it is often used for recreational wrestling and exercises. Those who make it to the professional league fill entire stadiums, are celebrated as stars and earn good money. Along with football, wrestling is one of the most popular sports in the country and was part of the Olympic disciplines for the first time this year.

The tradition surrounding the sport goes back centuries. Oral traditions as well as early reports from European travelers and missionaries show that wrestling matches were held in what is now Senegal as early as the 15th century. But as deeply rooted as sport is in Senegalese society, it is still a male domain to this day. The fact that the first gold medal in wrestling was won by a young woman, of all people, makes Diatta a pioneer - and the best example of the goals pursued by the Youth Olympic Games: enthusiasm for sport and equal opportunities for boys and girls. “Senegalese girls should believe in themselves, because wrestling is not just for men,” encourages Elisabeth Diatta.

Senegal has won a total of ten medals, five of which were gold, putting them in sixth place in the medal rankings. Germany won a total of eight medals, three of which were the coveted gold, which were won by 17-year-old judoka Jolina Reinhold, 16-year-old Luna Fellinger in taekwondo and the handball men. But in addition to the hunt for precious metal, the young athletes will also remember the international sports community and the exuberant atmosphere in the stands, as well as the boiling competition temperatures of an average of 36 degrees.

In addition to beach wrestling, coastal rowing, baseball5, skateboarding and the Chinese martial art Wushu also made their debut in the Olympic program. A refugee team also took part for the first time. And another first makes the games in Dakar historic: for the first time ever, an Olympic event took place on African soil. For Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), there is no question that this will also change the continent's image as a host of major sporting events.

Russia was also represented on the international sports stage for the first time at the Youth Games in Dakar. This is made possible by an IOC guideline formulated in 2025, according to which young athletes should not be held responsible for the actions of their governments. Russia's Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov described the games as an important step towards the full return of Russian sport. While Russia is largely isolated in the West because of its war of aggression against Ukraine, the perception in many African countries is significantly different. In recent years, Moscow has specifically expanded its presence on the continent politically, economically and militarily - and has worked a lot on its image. According to a survey by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 83 percent of young Africans rate Russia's influence in their country as positive.

The opening ceremony was also political, as Israel's flag bearer was greeted with loud boos, while Palestine's delegation received loud applause. The reactions reflect the stance that Senegal has repeatedly expressed in the Gaza war. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye clearly condemned the Israeli actions and described the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe. There are also increasing calls in the country to break off diplomatic relations with Israel.

As much as the Youth Olympic Games are intended to promote international understanding, fairness and cooperation across borders, politics cannot be completely banned from the stadiums in Dakar either. At the same time, the games offer the participating countries the opportunity to present themselves in a different light beyond political conflicts. In any case, for Senegal they were an important milestone and the opportunity to recommend themselves internationally as a reliable host of major sporting events. It is still unclear where the next Youth Olympic Games will take place.