“The Roar of Youth” – a striking design by 26-year-old Spanish designer Pilar Barbadillo Vicario – has been selected for the obverse of the medals for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The artwork was chosen by an international jury following a global design competition and will feature on the medals awarded to athletes at the Games in Senegal.
The medal’s central motif is a lion, representing strength, courage and Senegal itself. Its mane forms two symmetrical faces symbolising fairness and respect, each adorned with an olive crown as a nod to Olympic heritage. The design blends Senegalese artistic inspiration with the values of the Olympic movement, creating a medal that reflects both local culture and sporting excellence.
Barbadillo Vicario explained her creative approach: “When I was designing the medal, I was thinking about what you see when you already have it at home afterwards. It represents everything you’ve achieved over time, not only the moment you win it, but all the work behind it and what can motivate you in the future.”
Currently studying for a master’s degree in UX/UI design, she described her reaction to winning as profoundly emotional. “I just can’t explain it,” she said. “My sisters and I love the Olympic Games – we always watch them together and they won’t believe this. Even my fingers were shaking.”
Reflecting on the significance of the achievement, she added, “Right now, I feel as if I had won one of those medals myself. Athletes express themselves through sport, and for me it’s art. Knowing that young athletes will wear a medal with my design is just incredible.”
“I wanted the medal to help winners remember where they were and what they achieved there. It’s about knowing you’ve travelled, that you’ve been somewhere, and that you’ve achieved something through your effort.”
The call for designs, launched in September 2025, attracted submissions from 103 countries, with the highest number of entries coming from India, Senegal, Brazil, Mexico and France. Barbadillo Vicario will also be invited to attend Dakar 2026, where her design will be presented on the podium.
The jury included International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dakar 2026 Coordination Commission Chair Humphrey Kayange OLY; Gangwon 2024 medal design winner Dante Akira Uwai; Olympian artist Annabel Eyres OLY; IOC Young Leaders Peniamina Percival OLY and Pragnya Mohan; IOC Young Reporters Yun Su Park and Yann Durand; and Dakar 2026 ambassador Elzo Jamdong. Coordination Commission Chair Kayange presented the jury’s recommendation to the IOC Executive Board last week.
The runner-up design, “The Sun of Values,” was created by Agisilaos Kyriazis from Greece, while third place went to Elizuba Joe Abraham from India for “The Celebration of Triumph.”
The reverse of the Dakar 2026 medal will be designed by the Organising Committee through a national competition and will feature Senegalese cultural elements alongside the Youth Olympic Games emblem.
Opportunities for young designers to create the obverse of Youth Olympic medals began with the inaugural YOG in Singapore in 2010, when Japan’s Setsuko Fukuzawa created the “Yes Youth Can” design. Since then, designers from Slovakia, Romania, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Brazil have seen their designs awarded to athletes at subsequent Games.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together 2,700 of the world’s best young athletes aged up to 17. Competitions will be held across three host cities: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
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