~ The 16-year-old reflected on his historic achievement, expressing his love for his family, athletics, and his go-to meal. Read more below.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 13.11.2026) :: Mustapha Jadama has always been royalty in his own mind, crowing himself king of the track whenever he wins a race back home in The Gambia. But after winning silver in the men’s 400m at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, he’s officially athletics aristocracy in the African nation.
Located along the banks of the Gambia River, which gave the country its name, and completely enveloped by Senegal, the smallest nation by land mass on continental Africa had waited a long time for its first Olympic or Youth Olympic medallist.
Athletes from The Gambia made their Olympic debut at the LA 1984 Games – competing at every edition since then – but have never won a medal. That drought extended across three previous editions of the Youth Olympic Games, before Jadama put an end to it at Dakar 2026.
Crossing the finish line in a time of 46.93 seconds, 0.53 behind gold medallist Saeed Omar from the United Arab Emirates, the teenager from the urban city of Brikama etched his name into the record books and quickly won praise from those back home.
“One man even called me, but I didn't know the person,” he told Olympics.com. “I [was] so excited when I received the call from that man.”
Having spent the last few days basking in the glory of his newfound fame, making the most of his time in the Athletes’ Village and sightseeing around the Senegalese capital, he can’t wait to return home and show his medal to those who matter most.
“My family have been calling me [too],” revealed the newly crowned monarch of Gambian sport. “They said they are waiting for me for the celebration.”
Cr-Olympics
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