On Saturday, November 7, on the beach of Saly, Senegalese wrestler Élisabeth Diatta became Youth Olympic Champion in beach wrestling in the 55 kg category. She secured the host nation’s very first gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG)—the first Olympic event ever hosted on African soil.
A Dominant Performance in the Final
In the final match, Élisabeth Diatta defeated Japan’s Reisa Kojima 5–1. The beach wrestling tournament takes place on November 7–8 in Saly, a venue hosting six YOG disciplines including beach volleyball, triathlon, and windsurfing.
A Steady Rise to the Top
This title marks the high point of a steady climb. At the U17 Beach Wrestling African Championships, Élisabeth Diatta took silver in the 55 kg division, while compatriot Ibrahima Sarr claimed gold in the 80 kg event. At the U17 World Championships in Baku (August 23–27, 2026), she fell just short of the podium with a fourth-place finish. Just weeks later, the young wrestler stood atop the podium on home soil.
Honoring a Senegalese Tradition
Beach wrestling stems from traditional wrestling. While currently included in the YOG program, it is not yet an official Olympic event. Senegal has long prepared for this stage: the national team finished first at the 2026 African Championships in Alexandria, and the Senegalese Wrestling Federation organized intensive training camps leading up to the Games.
Federation President Bira Sène sees beach wrestling as a major growth opportunity for Senegal and Africa as a whole, noting that the nation’s deep tradition of sand wrestling provides a distinct edge, even if local rules differ slightly from international beach wrestling.
A Historic YOG for Africa
From October 31 to November 13, 2026, Dakar hosts approximately 2,700 young athletes competing across 25 sports and 153 events spread across Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. As the first Olympic event of this scale in Africa, the Games’ motto—“Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates”—resonates deeply as a local champion claims victory on the sands of Saly.
Momentum for Team Senegal
Senegal opened its medal count on November 1 when judoka Matar Diop took bronze in the under-66 kg event. Diatta’s gold set off a new wave of success, quickly followed that same day by a second gold medal for Senegal when Maguette Diop won the 80 kg division.
Praise from ANOCA
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) extended warm congratulations to Élisabeth Diatta, her coaching team, the Senegalese Wrestling Federation, and the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee. ANOCA highlighted that her victory demonstrates what African youth can achieve when empowered, supported, and guided by Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship, adding that it will continue celebrating Team Africa’s performances through the closing ceremony on November 13.
