The design selected for the obverse of the medals for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games has been unveiled to the public.
The medal design for the YOG 2026, titled "The Roar of Youth,” was created by Spanish designer Pilar Barbadillo Vicario, aged 26.
It depicts a lion whose mane is formed by two symmetrical faces, each crowned with an olive branch, symbolizing "strength,” "courage,” "fairness,” and "respect.”
The design was chosen by an international jury following a call for submissions launched in 103 countries.
"I designed the medal thinking about what you would see when you have it at home. It embodies everything you have achieved over time—not only the victory, but also the effort made and the motivation for the future,” said Pilar Barbadillo Vicario, as quoted by the African Press Agency.
The jury included Humphrey Kayange OLY, President of the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026, athlete-artists, and young IOC reporters. Second and third prizes were awarded respectively to Agisilaos Kyriazis (Greece) and Elizuba Joe Abraham (India).
The reverse side of the medal will be designed through a national Senegalese competition and will incorporate elements of local culture along with the YOG emblem.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, across three sites: Dakar, the capital located on the Cape Verde Peninsula at the westernmost point of the country; Diamniadio, a new modern city about 30 kilometers from Dakar; and Saly, a seaside resort on the Petite-Côte south of the capital, bringing together 2,700 athletes under the age of 17.