Megan Nieman crowned South Africa’s Youth Olympic campaign with gold in the women’s 400m hurdles, becoming Team SA’s first female gold medallist of the Games, at the Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
The 17-year-old from Pretoria almost fell at the final hurdle and trailed Switzerland’s Mina Hirsbrunner by at least a metre with 50m to run. She dug deep, lunged for the line and won the photo finish in 57.75, with Hirsbrunner second in 57.84.
“I did not expect that final hurdle to cause a problem and I was really close to falling over. I dug deep to fight back and when I lunged across that line, and saw my name in first, I was overcome with pride and happiness,” said Nieman.
“It is an honour to win this gold for the team and to be the first female gold medallist for Team South Africa at these Youth Olympics is beyond words.”
Youth Olympic Dakar Gold Medalist, Megan Nieman
Milan Blignaut closed Team SA’s programme with silver in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.74m at her second attempt behind Kuwait’s Yasmeen Roy, who won with 1.80m.
“I am in slight shock right now! I did not come here expecting to win a medal, let alone a silver. I am so happy and thankful to everyone for their support,” said Blignaut.
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On the same day, 16-year-old Lara Stander finished fourth in the women’s 1500m in 4:31.50, just 0.40sec off the bronze after being boxed in on the final lap.
The two medals on the track gave South African women five of Team SA’s record 11 medals in Dakar: one gold, three silver and one bronze.
The pool delivered the first three. Leah Markgraaff opened Team SA’s account with silver in the 400m freestyle in 4:26.13 on 1 November. Chanel Veldsman followed with bronze in the 200m breaststroke in a personal best 2:30.87, then silver in the 100m breaststroke in 1:09.48 to become Team SA’s first multi-medallist. Markgraaff later reached the 200m freestyle final, finishing eighth.
Taylor Foster finished fifth of 32 in the women’s triathlon on Saly Beach, the best result by an African athlete in the race, while Team SA flagbearer Bo Reed jumped clear in the individual jumping final before placing eighth after the jump-off.
Athletics brought further near-misses. Janelle Kirkpatrick improved to 13.78 to finish fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles final, and Shiloh Snijders placed fourth in the discus with 41.58m.
Madison Bateson finished 12th in the women’s road race as part of the final sprint group and 33rd in the time trial. Archer Layla Viljoen went out 6-5 to Slovakia’s Adela Tollarovicová in the round of 32 after a one-arrow shoot-off, beach wrestler Duné van Zyl won one of her three group bouts in the women’s -75kg, and fencer Nikita Venturas won two pool bouts in the women’s épée.
In artistic gymnastics, Haylee van Rensburg led the South African trio in qualification in 40th place.
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For South Africa’s young women, most of them 16 and 17 years old, Dakar offered a first measure against the world’s best on African soil. Nieman summed up the mood as she looked ahead.
“I will continue to train and do my best in the competitions I qualify for and I hope to one day represent Team South Africa at the senior level.”
Original Copy: Team SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Megan Nieman of Team SA won gold in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, winning a photo finish in 57.75 to become South Africa’s first female gold medallist of the Games, as South African women claimed five of Team SA’s record 11 medals, at the Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. All Photos: Team South Africa / Frennie Shivambu
Photo 2 Caption: Milan Blignaut, who cleared 1.74m to win silver in the women’s high jump on the final day of Team SA’s programme at Dakar 2026.
Photo 3 Caption: Taylor Foster, fifth in the women’s triathlon on Saly Beach, the best result by an African athlete in the race at Dakar 2026.
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