The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games delivered a strong week for young track-and-field athletes, with Ethiopia finishing top of the athletics medal table when the programme concluded on Tuesday, 10 November. The final days also produced Games records, national milestones and a reminder of the depth of emerging talent across Africa and the wider world.
Ethiopia finishes first in the athletics medal table
Ethiopia ended the three-day athletics programme with five gold and three silver medals. China finished second with three gold, four silver and two bronze, while Kenya and Nigeria each collected three gold medals.
Yomif Abebe won the men’s 800 metres in 1:48.99, moving past Eritrea’s Ghebreab Mantay in the closing stages. Elsabet Amare claimed the women’s 1500m in 4:28.02. Their victories were important for Ethiopia’s overall medal position and added to the country’s strong record in distance running.
Kenya and Nigeria also had notable performances during the Games. Nigerian sprinters won both 100m titles earlier in the week, while Kenyan athletes collected distance-event gold medals. The results showed the depth of African talent across sprinting, middle distance and field events.
Records fall in Dakar
The athletics programme included several Youth Olympic Games records. Egypt’s Yahya Sawaby won the men’s discus with an African U18 record of 68.23 metres, while Jamaica’s Marquies Page set a Games record in the 110m hurdles. Other standout performances came in the 200m, 400m hurdles, triple jump and throwing events.
Such results matter because youth competitions provide a stage for athletes to experience international pressure while still developing. A record at this level does not guarantee a future senior title, but it can signal promise and offer a clear benchmark for future training.
World Athletics awards and LA28 qualification
World Athletics also announced three finalists for the 2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year award: Alison dos Santos, Mondo Duplantis and Sabastian Sawe. The organisation separately published the athletics qualification system for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, giving athletes and federations an early reference point for the next Olympic cycle.
The next focus
With the Dakar athletics programme completed, attention turns to indoor-season preparation, cross-country meetings and the road toward 2027 championships. For young athletes, the challenge is to build on the experience gained in Dakar and continue progressing through junior and senior competitions.
Sources:
- World Athletics — Ethiopia tops the Dakar athletics medal table: https://worldathletics.org/news/report/youth-olympic-games-dakar-abebe-amare
- World Athletics — latest reports and award finalists: https://worldathletics.org/news/rankings
- World Athletics — Youth Olympic Games programme: https://worldathletics.org/competitions/youth-olympic-games?competitionGroup=youth-olympic-games