Athletics events at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games came to a close following the third and final day of competition. A total of 36 gold medals were shared among 22 different countries, with China emerging as the most successful nation with nine medals. China won two gold medals on the final day, finishing second in the overall standings behind Ethiopia.
In the men’s triple jump, Xuefeng Sheng claimed the title with a jump of 16.18 metres, while China also secured gold in the race walk.
In the javelin throw competition held on the final day, Marko Kaethler made history by winning Paraguay’s first-ever Youth Olympic Games title. Having finished third at the South American Youth Games in April, Kaethler improved his personal best to 73.49 metres in Dakar to secure the gold medal.
Zimbabwe and the Dominican Republic won the gold medals in the closing 200-metre finals. In the women’s final, Patricia Sine and Carifta Games star Tyra Fenton were separated by just 0.01 seconds. Dominican athlete Sine claimed gold in 23.35 seconds, setting a new Games record, while Fenton took silver in 23.36 seconds. In the men’s race, Zimbabwe’s Mzondo crossed the finish line first in 21.04 seconds.
The men’s 800 metres proved to be one of the most closely contested finals. Eritrean Ghebreab Mantay, who had comfortably won his semi-final and entered the final as the favourite, had to settle for second place. Ethiopia’s Yomif Abebe prevailed after a closely fought battle, clocking 1:48.99. Abebe secured Ethiopia’s fifth gold medal and also broke the Games record.
Following in the footsteps of her brother, Ukrainian hammer thrower Mikhaylo Kokhan, who won the Youth Olympic title eight years ago, Milaniia Kokhan also reached the top of the podium. She finished more than five metres ahead of her closest rival, winning the competition with a throw of 71.27 metres.
