Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a former martial arts practitioner, attended the wushu finals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on 3 November and hailed the sport's entry into Olympic history on Senegalese soil.

Wushu's first Olympic finals had a head of state in the audience. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye attended the four taolu finals at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio on the afternoon of 3 November, the closing day of the sport's debut at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Several Senegalese outlets, including Seneweb, Senego and Senegal Direct, reported that the president saluted a discipline making its entry into Olympic history in Dakar. According to the presidential communication quoted by Senegal Direct, Faye practised martial arts for many years himself, which helped him appreciate what the sport demands: precision, patience, concentration and self-control.

"To all our young athletes, thank you for so proudly representing our country. Senegal is proud of you!" - Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in a message published after the finals

A thought for Woreye Ndiaye

The president also had words for Senegal's own wushu athlete Woreye Ndiaye, who took the athletes' oath at the opening ceremony but had to withdraw from the competition with an injury. He wished her a quick recovery. Faye also congratulated judoka Matar Diop, who won Senegal's first medal of the Games with bronze.

The president's visit came after IOC President Kirsty Coventry had also attended wushu's debut in Dakar, as reported by AFP and Inside the Games. In the finals, China's Lin Yilei, Egypt's Sondos Sonbol, Hong Kong, China's Poon Hao Ran and Singapore's Ng Zhe Nin became wushu's first Olympic champions.

Read more: all medallists from wushu's Olympic debut and Woreye Ndiaye's withdrawal.

Sources: Senegal Direct, Seneweb, Senego, Le Soleil. Photo: IWUF / Dakar 2026

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