Gift Bright wins 100m gold at Dakar Youth Olympics, makes Nigerian athletics history

Nigeria’s Gift Bright has won the boys’ 100m gold medal at the ongoing 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.

Bright delivered an impressive performance, setting a personal best of 10.28 seconds to finish first and claim the title.

China’s Zhang Hangyu secured the silver medal after clocking 10.57 seconds, while Poland’s Szymon Dolega took bronze in 10.61 seconds.

The victory marks the first time a Nigerian athlete has won the men’s 100m event at the Youth Olympic Games, representing a significant achievement for the country’s athletics.

Bright’s triumph also gives Nigeria its first track and field medal at Dakar 2026 and highlights his emergence as a promising sprint talent.

Ahead of the competition, the teenager had spoken about his ambition to win an Olympic gold medal for Nigeria.

“My goal in athletics is to be a professional athlete and to be an Olympic champion by winning a gold medal for my country. I am trying my best to make sure that happens,” Bright had said before the Games.