Marina Hatzikosta wins historic gold medal at Youth Olympic Games in Dakar

Seventeen-year-old athlete Marina Hatzikosta has made history for Cyprus by winning the gold medal in the discus throw at the 4th Youth Olympic Games held in Dakar, Senegal, on November 8, 2026. This victory marks the first-ever gold medal for Cyprus in the history of the Youth Olympic Games. Competing under challenging weather conditions with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, Hatzikosta secured the top spot with a throw of 53.20 meters, achieved during her fifth attempt. She had started the competition with a throw of 48.17 meters, placing her in third, followed by three unsuccessful attempts before her decisive performance.

The young champion, coached by Konstantinos Stavrou, has had a remarkable year, having previously secured gold at the U18 European Championships and bronze at the U20 World Championships. This achievement follows two previous silver medals won by Cypriot athletes in the history of the Youth Olympics: Alexandros Poursanidis in the hammer throw in 2010 and Paraskevi Andreou in 2014. Additionally, this win brings the total medal count for the current Cypriot Olympic Committee delegation in Dakar to three, following two bronze medals won by swimmer Andrew Marcus Lagoutis in the 50-meter events. The official medal ceremony is scheduled to take place later today.