Dakar, Senegal: Ecuador's Elvira Espinosa has made history, securing the first gold medal of the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games. On Sunday, she dominated the women's 400-meter freestyle, clocking an impressive personal best of 4 minutes, 22.87 seconds.

Overwhelmed with joy, Espinosa shared, "I feel so happy to win the first gold medal here at these Youth Olympic Games. I'm so grateful to all the people who support me." This victory marks a significant improvement from her previous best of 4:25.34, achieved at the 2026 South American Youth Games.

The swimming event unfolded at the outdoor 50-meter pool at Complexe Tour l'Oeuf, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies. Espinosa, accustomed to similar climates, found the conditions favorable. South Africa's Leah Markgraaff earned silver with a time of 4:26.13, while Belgium's Celya Paques secured bronze in 4:28.37.

Markgraaff expressed immense pride in her medal, highlighting the significance of the first Olympic event held on African soil. The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games, running until November 13, commenced on Saturday with a grand opening ceremony at the 55,000-seat Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, marking a historic moment for the African continent.

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