Driehoek’s Theron wins Youth Olympics silver

John-Pierre Theron produced an incredible performance to secure a silver medal for Team South Africa in the men’s hammer throw final at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday.

Theron produced a best effort of 71.79m on his second attempt to finish as the runner-up to Ecuador’s Patry Valdez Arroyo, whose winning throw was 73.27m.

Theron’s other legal throws were 67.72m, 70.54m, 61.07m and 66.80m.

Egypt’s Mohamed Ismail claimed bronze with a best of 69.72m.

Theron, aged 17, and a Grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Driehoek, struggled to contain his emotions after his outstanding performance at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium.

“I’m extremely happy with my silver medal,” he said. “The Lord had this planned for me today, and I am so proud of my performance.

“It is an honour to wear this medal around my neck with my country’s flag over my shoulders. It is a dream come true.

“Thank you to everyone involved with Team South Africa. It is an honour to be part of this squad,” he said.

It was the Vanderbijlpark athlete’s  first appearance at an international competition, and he was delighted to rise to the occasion.

“The level of pressure was so much higher than anything I have experienced before,” he admitted.

“I handled it well, and it is a great sign of what can be achieved in the future.”

In other athletics events on Sunday, Shiloh Snijders narrowly missed out on a medal, taking fourth in the women’s discus throw with a best of 41.58m.

Janelle Kirkpatrick placed fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.78 seconds.

Theron’s medal was Team South Africa’s fourth silver and their sixth medal overall at Dakar 2026.

Chanel Veldman won silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m breaststroke, Leah Markgraaff added a silver in the 400m freestyle, the SA u17 Rugby Sevens team also claimed silver, and Callum Dreyer won gold in the Men’s Coastal Beach Rowing event.