Team Peru concluded its participation in the IV Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on a positive note. The team competed against top athletes from 206 countries—all governed by the International Olympic Committee—and came within a hair's breadth of winning medals.
The fifteen national athletes delivered an impressive performance on the African continent, with most finishing in the top ranks of their respective events.
In athletics, Thiago Goyzueta took fifth place in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, setting a new national record.
The athlete from Arequipa clocked a time of 5 minutes, 46.79 seconds—just one-hundredth of a second shy of breaking the South American record.
Rocío Andía, who was running in second place during the 5,000-meter race walk, was briefly pulled from the course on the seventh lap. She managed to re-enter and move into third place, but with one lap remaining, the judges removed her from the race, ending her chances of reaching the podium.
In cycling, Haru Quinto finished ninth in the road race, while in the time trial, she placed 21st out of 42 competitors.
In fencing (épée), Astrid Bravo won 4 out of 6 bouts in the opening round, advancing to the top 16. She won her next match but was subsequently eliminated in the round of the top 8, ultimately finishing in fifth place.
Young judoka Yesus Perea finished in seventh place following a very challenging round, while in beach wrestling, Stacy Rodríguez won two bouts and lost one; she missed out on the semifinals by a single point, ultimately finishing in sixth place.
In rowing, Teo Rubio came within seconds of reaching the final round, which featured 18 competitors. Ximena Zapata faced a tough debut in taekwondo against a local representative from Senegal and was defeated in the opening round.
In skateboarding, Jacen Yactayo performed well, as did our table tennis athletes, Natzumi Aquije and Samuel Duffoo.
In swimming, Cielo Moya and Doménico Sotomayor both finished among the top seven.
Our windsurfers, Salvador Tenorio and Paula Ledgard, placed 13th and 16th, respectively, in the overall standings among 25 competitors in the men’s and women’s categories.
The event was attended by the president of the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP), Renzo Manyari; the COP secretary general, María Martínez; and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Cecilia Tait.
“Competing in an Olympic Games is already a major achievement for any athlete, especially for those still in their developmental stages. I appreciate and support the technical work of the national sports federations—the primary pillars for these young athletes who represented Peru at the Dakar 2026 Games", said Renzo Manyari.
"Despite facing a climate different from our own, they showed a strong desire to raise our national colors to the highest level. Sports is a continuous journey, and I am confident that the effort they demonstrated today in Africa will soon translate into medals,” he pointed out.
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(END) JSO / MDV
Published: 11/12/2026