Athletes and International Stars Revealed at Youth Olympics

The Youth Olympic Games, reserved for athletes aged 14 to 17, took place from October 31 to November 13 in Dakar. The first three editions (Singapore 2010, Nanjing 2014, and Buenos Aires 2018) served as a springboard for several champions who subsequently excelled at the Olympics starting in 2012 and continuing to 2024. Here are ten prominent athletes.

Noah Lyles, the American sprinter who won gold in Paris for the 100m, had previously claimed gold in the 200m at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014.

Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia shocked the world in the 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating top competitors including American Sha’Carri Richardson. Before his triumph, Alfred earned a silver medal at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Six years later, he achieved gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m.

Wang Chuqin dominated the brothers Lebrun in table tennis, beating the elder Alexis twice and the younger Félix ten times without a single loss. The Chinese player, currently the world number one, had already showcased his talent at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, where he won two gold medals. While he faced a surprising exit in the singles at Paris, he claimed gold in mixed doubles, finishing the year at the top of the rankings.

Chad le Clos, the South African swimmer, began making waves by winning five medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) at Singapore's Youth Olympic Games (2010). He etched his name in history in 2012 by beating the legendary Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly final. In Rio 2016, he added two silver medals to his collection.

Jessica Fox, a canoe-kayak athlete, announced her arrival with a gold medal in Singapore in 2010. Born in Marseille and raised by kayaking parents in Australia, she won her first Olympic medal (silver) in London 2012. After a disappointing 2016 (bronze), she earned gold in Tokyo in 2021 and achieved a double gold in canoe and kayak at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Emma McKeon stands among the top 40 medalists in Olympic history. The Australian swimmer impressed with six medals, including one gold, at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010, confirming her potential at her first Olympics in Rio 2016 with four medals before exploding with seven medals, including four golds, at Tokyo 2021. She announced her retirement shortly after the 2024 Paris Olympics, completing her journey with three final medals.

Noah Lyles emerged in the sprinting world at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014, winning gold in the 200m. He initially won a bronze medal at his first Olympics but finally fulfilled his promise in Paris 2024 with gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m.

Panipak Wongpattanakit, Thailand's first Olympic taekwondo champion, first gained recognition at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014. She claimed her first Olympic gold at 17, which set the stage for future success. After winning bronze in Rio, she earned gold in Tokyo and repeated her success in Paris 2024.

Ulugbek Rashitov holds two gold medals among the ten won by Uzbekistan in Olympic history. After winning gold at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018, he delivered a stunning performance in Tokyo 2020, winning gold at just 19 years old after defeating South Korean legend Lee Dae-hoon. He added another gold medal at the Paris Olympics three years later.

Sara Samir is one of Egypt's greatest athletes. The exceptional weightlifter made history as the first Egyptian and first Arab woman to podium at the Olympics, winning bronze at Rio 2016 (69 kg). Before Brazil, she had claimed gold at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014, and in Paris 2024, she earned another medal (silver), further solidifying her legacy.

Iga Swiatek, Poland's best tennis player, has built an exceptional record with six Grand Slam titles (ongoing). In 2018, during the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, she won the junior championship at Wimbledon in July, subsequently claiming gold in the Youth Olympics. After a setback in 2021 in Japan, she secured a bronze medal in Paris 2024.