Ecuador's Elvira Espinosa has written her name into the history books after becoming the first gold medallist of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The 17-year-old delivered an impressive performance in the women's 400m freestyle at Tour de l'Oeuf, touching the wall in 4:22.87 to secure the opening gold medal of the competition.
South Africa's Leah Markgraaff claimed silver, finishing 3.26 seconds behind the Ecuadorian, while Belgium's Celya Paques completed the podium with bronze.
Espinosa admitted that becoming the first athlete to win gold at the Games made the achievement even more special.
"It makes me even happier to be the first. I can't describe the feeling yet," she said.
The Ecuadorian also credited the support she received and her confidence heading into the competition for helping her deliver the winning performance.
Despite feeling nervous before the race, Espinosa said she motivated herself in the call room, reminding herself to remain calm and believe in her ability.
Her confidence grew during the final stages of the race, particularly after reaching the 300-metre mark, when she realised that gold was within reach.
For Markgraaff, the silver medal represented a significant achievement, with the South African expressing satisfaction at reaching the podium after a demanding final.
Swimming action continues at Dakar 2026, with four more medal events scheduled for Sunday afternoon: the men's and women's 200m backstroke and the men's and women's 100m butterfly finals.
Sports Hunter South Sudan continues to follow the stories, performances and emerging talents shaping international sport.
Source: Olympic Information Service (OIS).
