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Callum Dreyer and Liu Lili claim the Men's and Women's Solo titles as Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints made their Youth Olympic Games debut in Senegal, starting a new chapter on the way to LA28.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 04.11.2026) :: On a beach beside the Atlantic Ocean, rowing took on a new rhythm at the Youth Olympic Games.
South Africa's Callum Dreyer and China's Liu Lili won the last two gold medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Tuesday, ending four days of Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints and marking the discipline's first appearance on the Olympic stage.
Dreyer's win was a big moment for South African and African rowing, while Liu added to China's Mixed Coastal gold from Monday. Spain appeared on both Solo podiums, with Diego Molina Martinez winning men's silver and Blanca Lopez Valera taking women's bronze.
The competition ended in a way that showed rowing's future could be more geographically diverse. While rowing has been strongest in Europe and in countries like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, Beach Sprints are bringing new opportunities. In Dakar, Africa and Asia took the top spots.
The vibrant energy on Saly Beach West served as the ultimate proof of the discipline's global potential, according to World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland:
"Dakar 2026 is a landmark moment for rowing. Seeing Beach Sprints make their first Olympic appearance in Senegal with such a diverse global field is truly special. The energy on the beach shows exactly what this discipline brings to our sport. We are proud of this milestone in Africa and excited for LA28."
South Africa and China Take the Final Golds
Dreyer delivered a strong performance to take the Men's Solo gold for South Africa. Spain's Diego Molina Martinez claimed silver, while Hungary's Adam Moor won bronze.
Dreyer had already announced himself as a strong contender earlier in the competition. On Day 3, he produced an impressive Last 16 victory over Lithuania's Justas Domarkas, using the waves on the return leg to reach the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Dreyer edged the Czech Republic's Ondrej Zizka by only 0.14 seconds. He then progressed through the semifinals before delivering the gold-medal performance.
This result was an important achievement for South African rowing and showed how Beach Sprints can give athletes from outside the usual rowing countries a chance to succeed.
China continued its outstanding Dakar campaign in the Women's Solo. After Su Juntao and Liu Lili made history by winning the first-ever Youth Olympic Mixed Coastal gold medal on Monday, Liu added another gold to China's collection.
Germany's Carolina Guerra Gonzalez won silver, and Spain's Blanca Lopez Valera took bronze after narrowly beating the Czech Republic in the Bronze Medal Race by 0.21 seconds.
The women's competition delivered plenty of international variety in the knockout rounds, with athletes from Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, China and Spain all progressing deep into the draw.
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