Historic Olympic Golds for Senegal at Dakar Youth Olympics

DAKAR, Senegal (November 7) -- Senegal had never won a gold medal in Olympic history. Then on Saturday it got two.

Hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Senegal won historic gold medals in Beach Wrestling at the Saly Beach West, crowing Elisabeth DIATTA (SEN) and Maguette DIOP (SEN) as Olympic champions.

Diatta, who finished outside of the podium at the U17 World Championships in Baku, defeated the U17 world champion Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) via fall in the 55kg final.

“I’m so happy to have made history for Senegal,” Diatta said.

Minutes later, Diop, who had already mesmerized the crowd with his dance moves, managed to hit a match-ending counter whizzer when U17 world champion Nihad SULEYMANI (AZE) was on a leg-attack. Suleymani pushed Diop towards the edge of the ring and was hoping to get a point but the Senegal wrestler hit a counter throw for three points to end the match.

The decision was confirmed after a challenge from Diop who won the review and the gold medal, 5-1.

In the two other weight classes in action on Saturday, Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ (VEN) managed to win his country's first gold medal with a decisive 4-0 win over Amirali DOMIRKOLAEI (IRI) in the final.

Rodriguez combined two touches on the sand and one stepout to score his three points. Iran challenged the last call but lost the challenge that added one more point to Venezuela's score.

In the women's 75kg weight class, Min ZHAO (CHN) held on for a thrilling 2-1 win over TANIYA (IND) to give China the gold medal. Taniya took a 1-0 lead when she snapped Zhao to her knees for one point. But Zhao managed to pressure Taniya for a touch as well to lead 1-1 on criteria.

Taniya managed to catch Zhao in the final 15 seconds, however, the Chinese wrestler slipped out of the hold and Taniya fell on the sand due to her momentum, giving one more point to Zhao and the win.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

60kg
GOLD: Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ (VEN) df. Amirali DOMIRKOLAEI (IRI), 4-0

BRONZE: Davit MDZEVASHVILI (GEO) df. Babacar MBAYE (SEN), 4-1

80kg
GOLD: Maguette DIOP (SEN) df. Nihad SULEYMANLI (AZE), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Reza JALILIAN (IRI) df. Konstantinos MOURTZILAKIS (GRE), 4-2

Women's Beach Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Elisabeth DIATTA (SEN) df. Reisa KOJIMA (JPN), via fall (5-1)

BRONZE: Manzanza TSIMBA (COD) df. Gunel KARIMLI (AZE), 3-1

75kg
GOLD: Min ZHAO (CHN) df. TANIYA (IND), 2-1

BRONZE: Matilda HRUBY (USA) df. Elisabeth DIATTA (SEN), 3-2