Mixed success for Team SA on day one of Games

The first day of action at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in the Senegalese capital saw Team SA involved in two different sports, with action concluded before all roads led to the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium for Saturday’s opening ceremony.

Callum Dreyer had a smart start to his Games when he qualified in fourth in the first of the rowing coastal beach sprints solo time trials but the beach volleyball pair of Evra King and Duncan Davids lost their opening Pool D match against Norway, 21-10, 21-5.

Dreyer offered his thoughts after an impressive first showing in the blazing heat. “This was my first time competing in this event and I am so happy with my result. It was a complete unknown and I am buzzing to have automatically qualified for the final 16. We have a nice rest until the next race on Monday.”

In his run, Dreyer was third overall in 7.87sec and then when it came to the rowing his 2:35.94 was fourth fastest, which left him fourth overall out of the 32 starters and a place in the Last-16, thanks to finishing in the top eight in the first of two heats.

The coach of Team South Africa’s beach volleyball, Koali Possa, reflected on a difficult day in the sun for his boys. “We knew coming into this match that it would be difficult. Norway is a strong opponent and they were the better team on the day. We come away from this match with a sense of disappointment as we would have liked to be more competitive but tomorrow is a new day and we have two matches to come out stronger and help us towards qualifying for the knockouts.”

On Sunday the pair play Chile and Nicaragua. In their game on Saturday, Chile won 21-9, 21-16.