Team South Africa claimed another gold medal at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday, when Matao le Roux won the men’s high jump with a height of 2.16m.
That effort equalled his personal best, set at the African Championships earlier this year.
China’s Sen Liu cleared 2.14m to claim silver, while Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed reached a height of 2.12m to place third. Both athletes bettered their personal bests by nine centimetres.
Though Le Roux teetered on the brink early by wobbling the bar on several close calls, he hit his stride when it mattered most.
He cleared 2.02m on his second try before breezing over 2.06m and 2.09m on first attempts to secure a medal. After surviving a nervous third attempt at 2.12m and clearing 2.14m on his second jump, he soared over the winning height of 2.16m with complete confidence.
“On the fourth jump, I decided enough was enough, and I went to put the pressure on him. I got into the groove, and it flowed from there.
“I want to push on from here and win more medals for my country, and for her.”
Le Roux’s gold was Team South Africa’s second gold medal of the Dakar 2026 Games, bringing their tally to nine medals, which is a joint best-ever haul for the country at the Youth Olympics, matching the nine medals won in 2010 in Singapore.
South Africa’s latest medal haul:
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Gold: Callum Dreyer (Hilton College) – Men’s Coastal Beach Rowing
- Gold: Matao le Roux (Swartberg) – Men’s High Jump
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Silver: John-Piere Theron (Driehoek)– Men’s Hammer Throw
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Silver: Leah Markgraaff (HeronBridge College) – Women’s 400m Freestyle
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Silver: SA u17 Rugby Sevens team
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Silver & Bronze: Chanel Veldman (Menlopark) – Women’s 100m Breaststroke (Silver) and 200m Breaststroke (Bronze)
- Bronze: Darius Botha (Dr Malan) – Men’s Shot Put
- Bronze: Enrique Bosch (Helpmekaar)- Men’s 110m Hurdles
- Second gold for Team SA at the Youth Olympics - 2026-11-09
- Bronze in the 110m hurdles for Bosch - 2026-11-09
- Meyerton teenager wins bronze at the Youth Olympics - 2026-11-09
