A 23-year-old Senegalese art student, Atoumane Seck, has designed the reverse side of the medals for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Africa’s first Olympic sporting event.
Seck, a visual communication student at the National School of Fine Arts of Senegal, emerged winner of a design competition organised in partnership with the institution.
The young artist, who hails from Thiès, said he chose the baobab tree as the central feature of his design to represent Senegal's cultural identity while reflecting the creativity and aspirations of young Africans.
Rather than adopt conventional images of a lion or an athlete, Seck said he opted for an original interpretation of the baobab, giving the national symbol a futuristic appearance.
He incorporated bamboo and electrical cables into the design, with the bamboo representing growth and hope, while the cables symbolise modern energy and the connection between African heritage and the future.
"My main inspiration was to represent Senegal while looking towards the future. The baobab tree symbolises our roots, our identity, and our strength," he said in an interview published on the Olympics website on Sunday.
Seck said winning the competition was an important milestone in his artistic career, adding that he was proud to contribute to an event of historic significance to Africa.
He explained that the medal was designed to communicate hope, courage and innovation, while reminding young athletes that their achievements were the result of hard work, sacrifice and determination.
The official medal design features a lion on the front and Seck's futuristic baobab interpretation on the reverse.
The young designer also urged aspiring African artists and artisans to embrace originality rather than simply reproduce existing ideas.
"We, as young Africans, must not only seek inspiration from the world—we must also create things that will inspire the world," he said.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be the first Olympic event hosted on African soil, bringing together young athletes from across the world.
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