16-year-old Praise Ugoh made history by winning Nigeria‘s first Youth Olympic 400m gold medal in the women’s final at the ongoing Dakar 2026 event on Monday, www.aclsports.com reports.
With a personal best of 52.76 seconds, the Nigerian rising star finished ahead of Venezuela’s Osmary Pacheco, who clocked 52.85 seconds, and Aisha Muhammed (UAE), who took bronze in 53.06.
Ugoh’s stunning victory comes after Nigeria claimed a gold double on Sunday, increasing the athletics gold medal tally to three. Consequently, she also became the first Nigerian to win the women’s 400m title since the Youth Olympic Games began in 2010.
Nigeria won just two gold medals at the maiden edition of the Youth Olympics in 2010, then another one at Buenos Aires 2018, before the three gold medals at Dakar 2026 so far.
Off the track, Rtd Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama became an official World Athletics International Starter at the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. He is the first Nigerian to take up this role at the Youth Olympics, and earlier this year he became the first Nigerian to officiate at the World Relays in Gaborone.
Meanwhile, it was not a pleasant outing for Gift Oghenerunor – DNS (Did Not Start) – as he was unable to take to the track for the men’s 400m hurdles semifinal. Then Rita Chisom Ezeh also finished 7th in the women’s 400m hurdles semifinal 2 with a time of 1:01.66. In the men’s High Jump final, Obanla Ehuwa placed 8th with a Personal Best (PB) clearance of 1.97m.
Ugoh’s victory has further strengthened Team Nigeria’s medal prospects as athletics action resumes at Stade Iba Mar Diop on Tuesday, with the contingent aiming to secure more podium finishes before the games end on Friday.
