Mariam Diallo, a high school student in Terminal languages and letters, will start her taekwondo competition at the 2026 Youth Olympics on Sunday at the Iba Mar Diop Complex in Dakar, Senegal. She will compete in the -44 kg category, which features the top 10 athletes in the world. Diallo has been preparing for the event by participating in various competitions, including the 2nd edition of the Jeux de l'Alliance des États du Sahel (JAES) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where she won a gold medal and the title of best fighter.
Diallo has accumulated experience in continental and world circuits, participating in the African Junior Championships in Nigeria, the African Youth Games in Angola, and the Junior World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She has won several medals, including a bronze medal at the African Championships and a silver medal at the Abidjan Open in Côte d'Ivoire. Her preparation was further enhanced by participating in Olympic taekwondo camps in Dakar in 2024 and 2026, which brought together young African prospects and their coaches.
According to her coach, Yaya Dembélé, a black belt 5th dan and selector of the junior national taekwondo team, Mariam is one of the 10 best athletes in the world. Dembélé expressed confidence in Diallo's abilities, citing her rigorous preparation and experience in high-level competitions. The -44 kg category will feature a limited field of 10 athletes, and the competition will take place on Sunday, with eliminations, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
The 2026 Youth Olympics, officially opened on Saturday, have been hosting various events since Wednesday, including baseball 5 at the Complexe Tour de l'Œuf in Dakar. The games feature athletes from around the world competing in different sports, and the event is being held at various venues in Dakar, including the Iba Mar Diop Complex and the Centre aquatique du Complexe Tour de l'Œuf.
In addition to Diallo's taekwondo event, other Malian athletes have been competing at the 2026 Youth Olympics. Younoussa Maïga, a swimmer, competed in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly events but failed to qualify for the finals. Another athlete, Moussa Koïta, a judoka, was eliminated in the -55 kg category after two consecutive losses.
The Malian delegation to the 2026 Youth Olympics is being led by the Comité national olympique et sportif (CNOS-Mali), which is providing support to the athletes. According to Wahabou Zoromé, vice-president of CNOS-Mali, the country's participation in the games is an opportunity to showcase its talent and potential.
As the competition continues, Mariam Diallo will aim to make a strong impression and bring glory to Mali. With her experience, skills, and rigorous preparation, she is considered a contender for a medal. The 2026 Youth Olympics will conclude soon, and the Malian athletes will look to make their mark on the international stage.
Key points
- Mariam Diallo is one of the top 10 athletes in the -44 kg category.
- She has won several medals in previous competitions, including a gold medal at the JAES in Burkina Faso.
- The 2026 Youth Olympics feature athletes from around the world competing in various sports.
