Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC) today announced its team for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, taking place from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
Intense preparations are underway as Antigua and Barbuda finalise plans for Dakar. ABNOC is confident it will field its strongest age‑group athletes to date and provide them with the experience and support needed to compete at the highest level for youth sport. The Youth Olympic Games combine elite competition with education on anti‑doping, athlete welfare and life skills, giving promising young athletes invaluable international exposure.
The delegation will be led by ABNOC Chef de Mission Ms. Karen Joseph, a highly experienced and respected youth welfare officer, assisted by certified ABNOC Welfare Officer Mr. Eric Henry. Antigua and Barbuda will compete in three sports with a team of five athletes.
Team roster
– Athletics
– Tyra Fenton — 200m (will carry the nation’s flag at the Opening Ceremony) – Competing on 10th Nov
– Zonique Charles — Women’s javelin – Competing on 9th Nov
– Aswald Baptiste — Athletics Track Manager
– Sonia Williams — Athletics Field Manager
– Table Tennis
– Stuti Kashyap — Women’s singles
– Aleena Edwards — Team Manager
– Swimming
– Espriit Shaw — 100m fly, 50m fly, 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke (Male Flag Bearer)
– Keziah Joseph — 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 50m fly
– Nelson Molina‑Fojo — Team Manager
The Youth Olympic Games were created by the International Olympic Committee and approved in 2007 to provide a global, Olympic‑style multi‑sport event for talented young athletes that pairs high‑level competition with education on Olympic values, athlete welfare and anti‑doping. The inaugural Summer Youth Olympics were held in Singapore in 2010, followed by the first Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck in 2012; Summer and Winter editions now alternate so there is a YOG every two years. Designed for athletes typically aged 14–18, the Games are smaller in scale than the senior Olympics and feature innovations such as mixed‑NOC teams and a Culture and Education Programme to foster sporting, social and personal development — Many Youth Olympic medallists go on to success at senior Olympic and international levels.
Cliff Williams
Secretary General, ABNOC
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Names Five Athletes for 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.