China Wins Historic First Women’s Team Gymnastics Gold at Dakar Youth Olympics
Chen Ziyan, Xie Guying and Zhong Qi edged Japan by 0.234 points in the inaugural event at Dakar 2026, completing China's sweep of the gymnastics team titles.
China's women's artistic gymnastics team has won the first women's team gold medal in Youth Olympic Games history, defeating Japan in a closely contested final at the Dakar 2026 competition in Senegal.
The Chinese trio of Chen Ziyan, Xie Guying and Zhong Qi scored 107.798 points on Monday to finish ahead of Japan, which took silver with 107.564 points. France claimed bronze with 105.231 points, according to results reported by Xinhua.
The victory was particularly significant because the women's artistic gymnastics team final was introduced to the Youth Olympic Games program for the first time at Dakar 2026. China's success therefore established the first champions in the event's history.
The margin between China and Japan was just 0.234 points, reflecting the close competition between two of the strongest youth gymnastics programs in Asia.
China's performance also completed a sweep of the men's and women's artistic gymnastics team titles at this year's Youth Olympic Games. The Chinese men's team, comprising Li Lezheng, Yang Lanbin and Zhao Ruiyang, won its final with a score of 158.463 points, finishing ahead of Japan and Great Britain.
The women's final featured competition across four apparatus: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Gymnasts must combine technical difficulty, execution and consistency, with mistakes on individual apparatus potentially affecting the overall team result.
China entered the competition as one of the leading contenders after performing strongly in the qualification rounds. The International Gymnastics Federation had previously reported that the Chinese women's team finished at the top of the qualification rankings, narrowly ahead of Japan.
The final result confirmed the competitiveness of the two teams. Japan remained close throughout the competition, but China's score was sufficient to secure the title.
The victory is another indication of China's continued investment in developing young athletes across Olympic sports. The country has traditionally been a major force in artistic gymnastics, particularly in events requiring technical precision, strength and coordination.
The Youth Olympic Games provide an international platform for athletes aged 15 to 18 to compete at a high level while gaining experience ahead of senior international competitions. Success at the event can offer young athletes valuable exposure to international judging standards, competition pressure and elite sporting environments.
For the Chinese team, the result is also important in the context of the next generation of national gymnastics talent. Athletes who perform well at youth competitions may eventually progress into senior national teams and compete at world championships and Olympic Games.
The Olympic Council of Asia reported that China won both team titles in Dakar, with the women's team securing its historic victory through strong performances on the uneven bars and balance beam.
The result also highlights the growing importance of the Youth Olympic Games as a development platform for international sport. The Dakar edition brings together young competitors from around the world, offering opportunities for countries to evaluate emerging athletes and develop future elite teams.
China's strong performance in gymnastics comes alongside other achievements at the competition. The country has also secured medals in badminton and other disciplines, contributing to its position among the leading delegations in the overall standings.
However, youth competition results do not guarantee future senior-level success. Athletes must continue developing their technical abilities, physical conditioning and consistency as they progress toward more demanding international events.
For Chen, Xie and Zhong, the historic gold medal provides an important achievement early in their careers. Their narrow victory over Japan also suggests that competition between the two countries is likely to remain intense as both develop their next generation of gymnasts.
The Dakar result gives China the first women's team gymnastics title in Youth Olympic history and adds another milestone to the country's record in international artistic gymnastics.