Dhinidhi Desinghu wins historic Youth Olympics bronze

Teenage swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu won India's first ever Olympic swimming medal – a bronze in the women's 100m freestyle – at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal on Monday, 2 November. The 16-year-old from Bengaluru clocked a national record time of 56.27 seconds, beating her own previous mark of 56.56 seconds set in 2026. Croatia's Ana Bobanovic took gold in 55.89 seconds, while New Zealand's Alyssa Lawson won silver in 56.13 seconds.

Dhinidhi, who had topped her heat in 56.80 seconds to qualify third fastest, became the first Indian swimmer to win an Olympic medal at either the senior or junior level. Her coach Nihar Ameen told Times of India that she has a better chance of winning another medal in the 200m freestyle event. In other news from the Games, judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai assured India of at least a silver by reaching the women's 63kg final, facing Germany's Jolina Reinhold later on Monday.

Update, 2 November 2026: The earlier report stated Dhinidhi Desinghu won bronze with a national record time. New sources from Times of India and The Hindu on 2 November add that she was fifth at the halfway mark before moving up to third, and her coach Nihar Ameen said she has a better chance of another medal in the 200m freestyle. Times of India also reported judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada won her round-of-16 bout.