Dakar, Senegal, November 13, 2026: The International Olympic Committee has identified three young Asian athletes who could make an impact at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Olympics.com named 10 outstanding athletes from the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with the potential to go much further in two years’ time – and three of them were from Asia.
“After two weeks of remarkable performances, a new generation of stars has emerged at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal,” Olympics.com posted.
“From awe-inspiring artistic gymnasts to crowd-pleasing coastal rowers and sensational sprinters, here are 10 Dakar 2026 athletes who could shine at LA28.”
The article continued: “With the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games drawing to a close, attention is already turning to the next Olympic Games, which will take place in Los Angeles in 2028.
“In the past, many Youth Olympic Games medallists have gone on to star at the Olympic Games, including sprinters Noah Lyles and Julien Alfred, swimmer Emma McKeon and judoka Abe Hifumi.
“Now, a new generation of rising stars from Dakar 2026 have their sights set on LA28 as they look to fulfil their dreams of becoming Olympic champions.”
The 10 include:
*Zhu Yuanling (People's Republic of China, skateboarding)
Another star emerged in the women's skateboarding competition, with People's Republic of China's Zhu Yuanling winning gold in women’s street at just 15 years old.
Having also claimed Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya, Zhu's remarkable season continued in Senegal. She scored 149.82 points to take victory, despite sitting in last place after her first two runs.
“My next goal is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” she said. “I look forward to showcasing even more difficult moves and a better-constructed routine for everyone. I would do my best to win a medal.”
Zhu delivered a spectacular final trick worth 82.38 points to take gold at Dakar.
*Ikki Nishihara (Japan, artistic gymnastics)
Japanese gymnasts have won the last four artistic gymnastics men's all-around titles at the Olympic Games, and Ikki Nishihara will be hoping to join a list of champions that includes Kohei Uchimura, Daiki Hashimoto and Shinnosuke Oka.
In Dakar, the 16-year-old claimed silver in the men's team competition and bronze in the all-around. Those medals followed impressive performances at the Asian Junior Gymnastics Championships, where he won gold in the parallel bars and horizontal bar, as well as sharing the pommel horse title.
*Pan Qimiao (People's Republic of China, fencing)
Fencer Pan Qimiao arrived in Dakar with an impressive record, having already won bronze on her senior World Championships debut in 2025 at just 16 years old.
The teenager, who competes in women's sabre, also claimed the 2026 junior and cadet world titles, making her one of the most exciting prospects in the sport.
Seeded third, Pan, now 17, beat top-ranked Korean Jeon Yuju 15-10 in the final.