Six Lower Austrian athletes target medals at Dakar Youth Olympics

Six athletes from Lower Austria are among Austria’s 17 competitors at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which begin in Dakar on Saturday. The two-week event brings together leading young athletes from around the world, ORF reported.

The Games are being held in Africa for the first time. Austria is competing in 10 sports, including fencing, athletics, swimming and table tennis. Lower Austria has the largest contingent of any Austrian state.

Table tennis player Nina Skerbinz, 17, from Markgrafneusiedl in Gänserndorf district, is among Austria’s medal hopes. She won gold in singles and bronze in mixed doubles at the 2025 European Youth Games in Skopje. “A medal would be cool, but the field is extremely strong because the Asian players are competing this time too,” she said. “I’ll do my best and give everything I have.”

Skerbinz will carry Austria’s flag at the opening ceremony with beach volleyball player Paul Hohenauer, 16, from Ziersdorf in Hollabrunn district. Hohenauer and his partner Martin Poinstingl, from Sallingstadt in Zwettl district, recently won the under-18 European title and are aiming for a medal in Dakar.

Lower Austria’s other competitors include hurdler Karem Ahmed, 17, of ULC Mödling and Fiona Schwarz, 16, of SV Schwechat, as well as fencer Lena Mayerl, 17, of Fecht-Union Mödling, who will compete in foil.

Austria will seek to extend its record at the Youth Olympic Games. The country won 20 medals, including four golds, at the first three editions in Shanghai in 2010, Nanjing in 2014 and Buenos Aires in 2018. About 2,700 athletes from around the world are expected in Dakar for 153 medal events.