Nigeria Makes History at Dakar 2026 as Rosemary Nwankwo and Gift Bright Win Both Youth Olympic 100m Gold Medals

Nigeria has made history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo and Gift Bright won gold in the women’s and men’s 100m events, completing a remarkable sprint double for the country. The victories, achieved on Sunday, November 8, marked a major moment for Nigerian athletics, making Nigeria the first country to win both 100m titles at the same edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

Nwankwo opened Nigeria’s gold medal account with an impressive performance in the women’s final, crossing the finish line in 11.16 seconds. She finished ahead of the United Arab Emirates’ Arwa Ali, who clocked 11.41 seconds, while Qatar’s Dana Salem claimed bronze in 11.48 seconds. The 17-year-old had also recorded the fastest qualifying time in the semi-finals, confirming her position as one of the leading contenders before the final. Her winning time was wind-assisted, with a reading of +2.4 metres per second, meaning it does not qualify as an official personal best under athletics regulations.

Gift Bright followed with another outstanding performance in the men’s 100m final, winning in a personal best of 10.28 seconds. The 15-year-old finished comfortably ahead of China’s Zhang Hangyu, who took silver in 10.57 seconds, while Poland’s Szymon Dolega secured bronze in 10.61 seconds. Bright’s time also set a new Youth Olympic Games record, improving on the 10.34 seconds he had clocked in the semi-finals. His victory made him the first Nigerian male athlete to win the boys’ 100m title at the competition.

Nwankwo’s triumph also added her name to a select group of Nigerian female sprinters who have won the Youth Olympic 100m title. She became the third Nigerian woman to achieve the feat, following Josephine Omaka, who won at the inaugural Games in Singapore in 2010, and Rosemary Chukwuma, who claimed gold in Buenos Aires in 2018. The latest victories further underline Nigeria’s history of producing promising young sprinting talent.

The double victory was particularly significant because it ended Nigeria’s wait for a medal at the Dakar Games, which began on October 31 and will run until November 13. The two gold medals also matched the country’s previous best gold-medal return at a Youth Olympic Games, achieved in Singapore in 2010. With the competition still underway, Bright and Nwankwo’s performances have given the Nigerian contingent renewed momentum and placed the country’s emerging athletes firmly in the spotlight.

Beyond the medals, the achievement offers an encouraging sign for the future of Nigerian athletics. Producing champions in both the men’s and women’s 100m events at a major international competition highlights the potential within the country’s youth development system.