Dakar, Senegal, November 13, 2026: China and Japan pulled off an Asian 1-2 at the top of the medals table of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
Olympics.com posted the final rankings after all 151 events had been completed at Africa’s first Olympic event, which ran from October 31 to November 13.
China led the way with 18 gold medals, eight silver and seven bronze for a total of 33 medals – seven gold medals ahead of second-placed Japan on 11-8-9 (28).
Russian Federation (8-4-2-14), Egypt (6-1-5-12) and Ethiopia (5-3-0-8) rounded out the top five.
China’s 18 gold medals came in swimming (4), artistic gymnastics (3), athletics (3), rowing coastal beach sprints (2) and one apiece in badminton, beach wrestling, breaking, fencing, skateboarding and wushu taolu.
Japan’s 11 gold medals were won in swimming (6), table tennis (2), athletics, boxing and breaking.
Mana Ishikawa, 17, accounted for four of Japan’s six swimming gold medals with victory in the women’s 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. She was the only athlete to win four gold medals at the Dakar YOG.
Of the Asian National Olympic Committees, three more were in the top 20 – Jordan in 16th place on 3-1-0, Chinese Taipei 19th on 2-4-3 and Uzbekistan 20th on 2-4-2.
The closing ceremony was due to take place inside the Athletes’ Village with only athletes and team officials taking part, and limited media access, at 6pm local time Friday, November 13.