Kenyan teens brave Dakar heat to storm Youth Olympics podium

Under the gruelling heat of the Senegalese sun, two of Kenya’s promising young track stars turned the Complex Iba Mar Diop Stadium into a proving ground of pure grit.

Women’s 2000m steeplechase champion Abigael Kosgei posses for a photo with former NOC-K president Paul Tergat after the award ceremony. [Courtesy]

Abigael Kosgei and Enock Tuitoek braved the harsh conditions to deliver back-to-back gold medals on a sensational Sunday afternoon at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics.

Sixteen-year-old Kosgei asserted Kenya’s athletics dominance, outclassing her opponents to cruise to victory in the women’s 2000m steeplechase with a personal best of 6:30.24. Kosgei’s race was far from easy under the Dakar heat as she survived a chilling stumble at the water barrier in her third lap.

With her eyes laser-focused on the ultimate prize, she picked herself up smoothly, regaining her pace before unleashing a gold-winning kick with about 80m to the finish line.

Source: The Standard Sports