Historic feat: Yolayni Rosado conquers gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Dominican sports celebrate a golden day in Dakar, Senegal. Wrestler Yolayni Rosado Valerio was crowned youth Olympic champion in the 65-kilogram beach wrestling category, marking an unprecedented milestone for the discipline in the country by becoming the first Olympic wrestling athlete to reach the podium at an Olympic Games.
Rosado Valerio sealed her impeccable participation by defeating the Spaniard Gabriela Eningo 3-1 in the grand final. With this result, the Dominican athlete not only awarded the first medal to the Dominican delegation in this edition of the youth event, but also consolidated a perfect performance by finishing undefeated after five bouts contested on the beach of Saly Oeste.
An impeccable path to glory
The Dominican fighter’s journey to the gold medal was a demonstration of technical and mental superiority. Her performance during the tournament included key victories against high-level rivals:
- 2-1 triumph against the representative from India, Antra Antra.
- 4-2 victory against the Kenyan Jemimah Wanjal.
- 3-2 dominance over the Spaniard Gabriela Eningo in the preliminary phase.
- 3-1 triumph in the semifinals against the Mongolian Anujin Erkhembaatara.
Rosado’s victory in the decisive bout allowed the national anthem of the Dominican Republic to resonate with pride on Senegalese soil, marking an unforgettable moment for national sports.
A place in the history of Dominican sports
With this gold, the Dominican delegation reaches a total of eight medals in the history of the Youth Olympic Games, since its debut in Singapore 2010. Yolayni Rosado now joins a select group of national athletes who have managed to reach the top of the podium in this event, accompanying figures of the stature of Luguelín Santos and Deury Corniel.
This feat reaffirms the constant growth of Dominican wrestling in the international arena and positions Rosado as one of the figures with the greatest projection in the Olympic cycle for the coming years.
