Kenya's Rising Lionesses have won their first-ever women's rugby sevens gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games after beating Australia 17-12 in a thrilling final in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The Kenyan youngsters secured victory in extra time after the two teams finished regular play level at 12-12. Mitchelle Chemtai scored the decisive try, completing a memorable performance that earned Kenya a place in the history books.

The final was closely contested, with Australia initially taking control through tries by Darci Mackay and Grace Buchanan. Billie Backus added a conversion as the Australians built their score.

Kenya responded through captain Zain Hido and Josephine Kerubo. Diana Wanjiku converted Kerubo's try to bring the scores level and force the match into extra time.

Chemtai then stepped up to score the winning try, sparking celebrations among the Kenyan players and their technical bench.

The victory was especially significant because Australia had beaten Kenya 17-5 during their earlier pool encounter. The Rising Lionesses therefore entered the final knowing they needed a much stronger performance to overcome their opponents.

Their journey to the championship match included a 12-5 win over China and a convincing 19-0 victory against hosts Senegal. Although they suffered defeat against Australia in the group stage, they recovered to beat Madagascar 15-5 in the semi-finals.

The gold medal represents a major milestone for Kenyan women's rugby, highlighting the progress made by young players competing at the international level.

Madagascar also celebrated a historic achievement after defeating the Czech Republic 26-10 to claim bronze, securing its first medal at any Olympic level.

For Kenya, however, the biggest moment belonged to the Rising Lionesses, whose extra-time victory over Australia delivered a landmark gold medal and strengthened the country's reputation in women's rugby sevens.

source:https://x.com/K24Tv/status/2117844479512076419?a=tAEUtzS3-IG7jO-c9Gs&s=20