Greek swimmer Nikolas Papatheodorou has won gold in the men’s 50m backstroke at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, completing an outstanding campaign with three medals in five days.
Papatheodorou shared first place with Portugal’s Miguel Reis Oliveira after both swimmers clocked 25.69 seconds in a thrilling final.
Belgium’s Billey claimed bronze in 25.91 seconds.
Read more: Nikolaos Papatheodorou Wins Second Medal With Dakar Backstroke Silver
The victory delivered Greece’s first gold medal of the Youth Olympic Games and marked another major achievement for the country’s swimming team.
Three medals in five days
Papatheodorou finished the competition with an impressive collection of medals across all three backstroke distances.
His results included:
- 🥇 Gold in the 50m backstroke
- 🥈 Silver in the 100m backstroke
- 🥉 Bronze in the 200m backstroke
After securing the title, the Greek swimmer said winning the 50m event had been an important personal goal.
“I wanted to win this medal. It was very important to me. I had been chasing it from the beginning, but it did not work out in my other two events,” Papatheodorou said.
“I had said I would win it in this event, and I did. I am extremely happy.”
He added that he was pleased with his race and particularly with his finish.
Greece celebrates first gold in Dakar
Papatheodorou’s triumph was Greece’s first gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and its fourth medal overall at the competition.
Swimming has been a major contributor to the Greek team’s medal tally, with Eirini Zervou also winning a medal in the pool.
The medal ceremony was conducted by Spyros Capralos, a member of the International Olympic Committee and president of the European Olympic Committees.
Papatheodorou’s three-medal performance marks an outstanding achievement for the young Greek swimmer and a significant moment for the country’s next generation of sporting talent.
