Olympic Solidarity support shines on the Dakar 2026 podium
Senegalese medallists in taekwondo, judo and 3x3 basketball were among the young athletes celebrated by home crowds at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Their journey to the podium was supported by Olympic Solidarity through training camps and youth initiatives organised in the lead-up to the Games. Moldova's Alexandra Chiron, an Olympic Solidarity scholarship-holder on the road to LA28, also made the podium, winning judo bronze. For many of these young athletes, who trained for years with the dream of competing at the Youth Olympic Games, the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Olympic Solidarity was an important part of their preparation, helping bring that dream to life in Dakar.
Key facts
- Alexandra Chiron (Moldova), one of 13 LA28 Olympic Solidarity scholarship-holders at Dakar 2026, won bronze in the women's -52 kg judo competition.
- Athletes in 21 of the 25 sports on the Dakar programme benefitted from Youth Athlete Development (YAD) initiatives ahead of the Games. Among them, athletes from more than 15 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) reached the podium at Dakar 2026, in sports including judo, taekwondo, athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, rugby sevens, boxing, table tennis, sailing and beach wrestling.
- Olympic Solidarity is currently supporting 1,586 scholarship-holders from 182 NOCs on the road to LA28.
Believing in young talent on the road to LA28
Alexandra Chiron's Youth Olympic journey began with an incredible honour: carrying Moldova's flag at the Opening Ceremony. One of the 13 athletes at Dakar 2026 supported by an Olympic Solidarity scholarship on the road to LA28, the young judoka ended her Games on an equally high note – winning bronze in the women's -52 kg judo competition on 2 November.
"I never imagined that, at such a young age, I could achieve such an important result. Representing the Republic of Moldova at the Youth Olympic Games was a great honour and a dream come true," said Chiron.
Through monthly grants, Olympic Solidarity scholarships help athletes by covering costs linked to training, equipment and qualification competitions, giving athletes from all backgrounds an equal opportunity to prepare for and succeed at the Olympic Games. Currently, 1,586 athletes from 182 NOCs are being supported on the road to LA28.
"For a young judoka from a small country like Moldova, having this kind of support means a lot," said Chiron. "It helps create better opportunities for preparation and allows me to focus on improving my performance and gaining experience. Knowing that the Olympic Movement believes in young athletes like me gives me extra confidence and inspires me to work even harder."
Looking ahead, her sights are set on LA28. "For me, this is just the beginning of my sporting journey. My biggest dream is to compete at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, and this medal gives me even more confidence that, with dedication and hard work, dreams can become a reality," she said.
From training camps to the podium
Olympic Solidarity's impact at Dakar 2026 goes far beyond the scholarship programme. Many young athletes took part in initiatives that were part of its Youth Athlete Development programme in the run-up to the Games. Of those who took part in these initiatives, athletes representing more than 15 NOCs won medals in a number of sports, including judo, taekwondo, athletics, fencing, 3x3 basketball, rugby sevens, boxing, table tennis, sailing and beach wrestling.
Ahead of Dakar 2026, Olympic Solidarity expanded its investment in youth programmes, with a particular focus on African NOCs. Since 2025, the YAD programme has supported 378 initiatives across 185 NOCs, including 149 initiatives in 53 African NOCs. Organised in collaboration with International Federations (IFs) and NOCs, the initiatives ranged from training camps and workshops to education for young athletes, coaches and officials. In all, 21 of the 25 sports on the Dakar 2026 programme benefitted from these opportunities.
Preparation that paid off in front of home crowds
Senegal's athletes who took part in YAD initiatives thrilled the home crowds by winning medals in several sports. In taekwondo, Marie Sarr won gold in the women's -55 kg category. She had taken part in three World Taekwondo training camps supported by Olympic Solidarity's YAD programme in 2024, 2025 and 2026 – one in each year.
After her winning performance, in a competition in which a Senegalese team-mate also took bronze, Sarr had an inspiring message for the young girls watching: "Girls, you have to take part, you have to play sport, because sport is not only for boys; it is for girls too."
Senegal's 3x3 basketball teams also reached the podium on 9 November, with the men winning gold and the women bronze. Both teams had taken part in the 3x3 Elite Youth Training Camp in Dakar in 2025, organised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) with support from Olympic Solidarity and the Senegalese Basketball Federation.
Senegalese player Seyni Ndoye, who attended the camp, said: "This experience helped me read the game better, control the pace, and be more effective in important moments."
Bringing athletes from many NOCs to the podium
For the Kenyan and Madagascan women's rugby sevens teams – both of which won medals at Dakar 2026 – a training camp close to Games time was a chance to fine-tune their preparation. Both teams took part in an Olympic Solidarity-supported camp organised by World Rugby in Tunisia in October, which combined on-pitch training with sessions on anti-doping, safeguarding and the Olympic values. Barely two weeks later, on 3 November, Kenya won gold and Madagascar bronze.
“I'm very proud of the girls. What started as developing the national sports system was then followed by this training camp and finally materialised into a medal. That's just amazing,” said Kenya Rugby Union CEO Thomas Odundo.
In judo, bronze medallists Elisha Zimba (Zambia), Matar Diop (Senegal), Aly Elramly (Egypt) and Don de Dieu Igiraneza (Burundi) benefitted from Olympic Solidarity-supported International Judo Federation (IJF) youth initiatives.
In fencing, Sara Amr Hossny from Egypt went on to win a silver medal, after receiving Olympic Solidarity support to participate in an International Fencing Federation (FIE) training camp and the 2025 FIE Cadet and Junior Foil World Cup.
Zimbabwe's gold medallist Ropafadzo Mzondo (200m) and Burkina Faso's bronze medallist Ibrahim Sawadogo (long jump), meanwhile, participated in World Athletics youth camps and education workshops held ahead of the Games.
Together with Alexandra Chiron's bronze, these results show that Olympic Solidarity's support, whether through scholarships or training initiatives, can help athletes from NOCs of all backgrounds reach the podium.
A global support programme
The YAD programme is one of a range of initiatives delivered through Olympic Solidarity and available to all NOCs, with a particular focus on supporting athletes and NOCs most in need. For the 2025-2028 quadrennial period, Olympic Solidarity has a budget of USD 650 million to support NOCs in developing athletes, coaches and sports administrators around the world.