"VAN" (Sports Desk - 09.11.2026) :: On Sunday (8 November), Rosemary Nwankwo was crowned Dakar 2026 women’s 100m champion on the first day of athletics action at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The 17-year-old delivered a dominant performance at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop, winning the final in 11.16 seconds – 0.18 seconds faster than her personal best heading into these Games.
In doing so, she became the third Nigerian women’s 100m champion at the Youth Olympic Games, following Josephine Omaka at Singapore 2010 and Rosemary Chukwuma at Buenos Aires 2018.
Her victory came moments before compatriot Gift Bright won the men’s 100m in his own personal-best time of 10.28.
Nwankwo screamed with delight as Bright crossed the finish line, with the pair securing Nigeria’s first two gold medals at Dakar 2026.
It was another memorable moment at the Games for the teenager. Nwankwo had already been selected as Nigeria’s flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on 31 October.
Despite her young age, Nwankwo came into these Games having gained valuable experience on the international stage. Earlier this year, she won gold in the 4x100m relay at the African Athletics Championships in Accra.
At the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, she reached the semi-finals of the 100m.
But even though her achievements up to this point had been impressive, her gold medal in Dakar will surely rank as her greatest yet.
Cr-Olympics
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