By Tayo Ogunseye
Rising athletics stars, 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 led Nigeria’s charge with an impressive victory in the women’s 100m final, clocking a wind-assisted 11.16 seconds to become the third Nigerian to win the event’s title in Youth Olympic Games history.
The sprint sensation finished ahead of Arwa Ali and Dana Salem to claim the gold medal, having earlier demonstrated her quality by recording the fastest time across the semi-final heats.
Gift Bright completed the memorable sprint double with a commanding performance in the men’s 100m final.
He clocked a personal-best 10.28 seconds to become the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
China’s Zhang Hangyu finished second in 10.57 seconds, while Szymon Dolega of Poland took bronze in 10.61 seconds.
The historic double victory marks a significant moment for Nigerian athletics, as the two youngsters delivered outstanding performances to establish themselves among the emerging sprint talents on the international stage.
The achievements of Nwankwo and Bright also provide a major boost to Nigeria’s medal campaign at the Dakar Games while reinforcing the country’s potential in international athletics.
