Judoka Matar Diop wins Senegal's first Youth Olympic medal, on home soil

Matar Diop lost his quarter-final to the man who would go on to win gold, Ukraine’s Khazar Heydarov. He did not give up. Through the repechage he beat Jamaica’s Gow Larone and then, in the bronze medal contest, France’s Nathan Gbingbehi. And so, on Sunday 1 November at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre, the Senegalese judoka won Senegal’s first medal at its own Youth Olympic Games, in the under-66 kg category.

Dakar 2026 is the first time an Olympic event has been held in Africa. The Youth Olympic Games run until 13 November across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

A silver that didn’t count

The Senegalese daily Le Soleil calls the bronze “a historic first”. Senegal had been on a Youth Olympic podium before: judoka Babacar Cissé won silver at Singapore 2010, but in a mixed team event with athletes from several countries, and those medals are not credited to any national Olympic committee. That makes Diop’s the first medal in the table under Senegal’s name.

The paper praises his “capacity never to give up”. In March he had already finished second at the African Cadet Cup, also in Dakar.

Four countries, three continents

Gold went to Heydarov, who beat Canada’s Anes Mati by ippon in the final. The other bronze went to Argentina’s Thiago Carvallo, according to CP24. In the International Judo Federation’s official photo, Diop is on the far right, in the red and white jacket.

The judo at Dakar 2026 ran from 1 to 3 November, according to the International Judo Federation. The Games continue until 13 November.