Team South Africa racks up Youth Olympic Games medals in Dakar

Champions, while we spent the week deciding who to vote for and then casting our ballots on Wednesday, South Africa's young athletes were busy making history at the  Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

It’s the first Olympic Games ever held in Africa, and our youngsters already have five medals: one gold, three silver and one bronze.

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From Callum Dreyer's gold in coastal beach sprint rowing to standout performances in swimming and rugby sevens, there's plenty to celebrate at the first Olympic event hosted on African soil. Meanwhile, the Springboks face Italy in Turin in a crucial Nations Championship clash this Saturday, while the Springbok Women's Sevens team heads to Nairobi for the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens tournament.

Here's your round-up of South Africa's biggest sporting achievements and fixtures this week!  

Callum Dreyer: Gold, Rowing (Boys’ Coastal Beach Sprint)

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Callum Dreyer from Hilton College won South Africa’s first gold of the Games in coastal beach sprint, which combines running on sand with rowing at sea and is making its Youth Olympic debut. He won three knockout races in a row, taking the final in 2:15.65. Remarkably, he only started rowing about 15 months ago. His dad, Martin, is a seven-time Dusi Canoe Marathon champion. “I am so proud to win this medal for South Africa and for Africa as a whole,” said Callum. 

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Leah Markgraaff: Silver, Swimming (Girls’ 400m Freestyle)

Leah Markgraaff, 17, opened Team SA’s medal tally on Sunday with silver in the 400m freestyle in 4:26.13, fighting back from third at the halfway mark. 

Chanel Veldsman: Silver and Bronze, Swimming (Breaststroke)

Chanel Veldsman became our first multi-medallist of the Games. She took bronze in the 200m breaststroke on Monday, then silver in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday in 1:09.48. “The hard work and sacrifices have paid off,” she said. 

Boys’ Rugby Sevens: Silver

Our under-17 sevens side beat Argentina 24-12 in the semi-final, then fought back from 21-5 down at half-time against France in the final, closing to within two points before France scored after the hooter to win 28-19. Heart-breaking loss, but a silver medal is still a medal, and it means our boys bring something home! 

Springboks Nations Championship Action

The Springboks are back in action this weekend, and the Nations Championship is heating up. Siya Kolisi leads the side against Italy in Turin on Saturday at 13:40 SA time, with Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe out injured. The Boks have won all three games so far, and top the Southern Hemisphere log on 15 points, level with the All Blacks and ahead only on points difference. After Italy come France in Paris on 13 November and Ireland in Dublin on 21 November. If the Boks finish top of the southern log, they play the top northern team in the final at Twickenham on 29 November, so with the All Blacks level, every bonus point counts. 

Springbok Women’s Sevens

The Springbok Women’s Sevens ‘A’ team, captained by Vianca Boer, plays the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens in Nairobi this Saturday and Sunday. The tournament also serves as Africa’s qualifier for World Rugby’s SVNS 3 competition. They’re in Pool A with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, and they’ll want to improve on last year’s second place.

So Champions, as it stands: votes almost counted, medals counted, and a big rugby weekend ahead. It’s a good week to be South African.

I love you, 2-1.  

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