Swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido will carry the Philippine flag into the first Olympic event ever held on African soil, leading a young delegation chasing its first Youth Olympic Games medal since 2018. The parade of athletes opens Dakar 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Ajido, a silver medalist in the boys’ 100m butterfly at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, heads a nine-athlete squad whose members are all 17 or younger. The team competes in six of the 25 sports at the Fourth Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Team Philippines Roster for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman represent the country in swimming, which begins on Nov. 1. Angel Polo opens her wushu campaign in women’s taijiquan combined the same day.

Gymnasts Tchelzy Mei Maayo and Hilarrion Palles III begin competing on Nov. 7. Cyclist Maritanya Krog, sprinter Pi Durden Wangkay (men’s 200m), runner Naomi Marjorie Caesar (women’s 800m) and windsurfer Jade Justiniane all start on Nov. 8.

Philippines Chases Rare Youth Olympics Podium Finish

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino set the tone for the delegation. “The YOG are as tough as the Summer Olympics,” said Tolentino, who will travel to Dakar ahead of the opening ceremony.

The Philippines has won only two YOG medals. Luis Gabriel Moreno claimed archery gold in the mixed international team event with China’s Li Jiaman at Nanjing 2014, and Christian Tio took kiteboarding silver at Buenos Aires 2018.

Chef de mission Rocky Samson, secretary-general of the Philippine Taekwondo Association, led an advance party on a 29-hour flight to Senegal. The ceremony at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio will carry the theme “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.”