Youth Olympics swimming day 3: Rahmouni wins 400m freestyle gold

Saudi Arabia’s Rami Rahmouni won men’s 400m freestyle gold with a national record on 3 November at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The five swimming finals covered here include repeat champions in backstroke and breaststroke.

SwimSwam said Rahmouni broke his own Saudi record of 3:50.27, set at the French U18 Championships in May 2026. The 17-year-old was the only swimmer in the final under 3:50.

The women’s rugby sevens medal matches also ended with Kenya winning gold and Madagascar taking bronze. Kenya reversed a pool-stage defeat by Australia to win the final in extra time.

Swimming medal results

Rahmouni finished 2.60 seconds ahead of Toropkin and 4.86 seconds ahead of Saborio. In comments to Olympics.com reproduced by SwimSwam, Rahmouni said he expected Toropkin could swim 3:50. He considered his opening 200 meters in 1:52 a little fast, but said giving everything in the third 100 meters decided the race.

Toropkin had won men’s 100m freestyle the previous day. Miyazaki entered his final after winning men’s 200m breaststroke the previous night, but Xie finished 0.27 seconds ahead of him. Silisteanu beat Kim by the same margin, while Ishikawa finished 0.67 seconds ahead of Veldsman.

Silisteanu was the only swimmer in her final under a minute. Ishikawa was the only swimmer in hers under 1:09, adding another gold after her women’s 200m breaststroke victory the previous night. Veldsman took silver in both races.

Repeat medals and race decisions

Muchirahondo added men’s 100m backstroke gold to his earlier 200m backstroke title. In comments to Olympics.com reproduced by SwimSwam, he said he felt relief and happiness because his work was paying off. His first gold had given him confidence, and he had focused on recovery rather than trying to do too much.

Papatheodorou said he was proud that his work had paid off and enjoyed racing his favorite event. Xie said he achieved what he came to do, though he thought he could have swum better. He believed he made an error at the start, accepted it and concentrated on his own race.

Silisteanu said adding gold to the silver she won on Sunday felt incredible. After qualifying second from the heats, she tried to give everything in the final.

Kenya wins rugby sevens gold in extra time

Kenya beat Australia 17–12 in the women’s rugby sevens final, with Mitchelle Chemtai scoring a try in the corner during golden point: extra time in which the next score wins. Australia had beaten Kenya 17–5 in the pool stage.

Darci Mackay and Grace Buchanan scored for Australia, while Zain Hido and Josephine Kerubo replied for Kenya. Australia received a yellow card, and the teams finished normal time level at 12–12 before Chemtai settled the match.

In comments to OIS reproduced by RugbyPass, Kenya captain Hido said the team had felt beaten when it trailed 12–5. The coach’s reminder of why they had come helped restore hope, she said.

Hido described her side as the first Kenyan team to win Olympic gold. This victory was at the Youth Olympic Games, distinct from the senior Olympics.

Madagascar takes bronze

Madagascar defeated Czechia 26–10 in the women’s sevens bronze-medal match. Madagascar had topped Group B before losing to Kenya in the semifinal. Soa Landy, Princia Ranaivoson and Sariaka Raveloarisoa scored in the bronze match.

RugbyPass described the bronze as Madagascar’s first Olympic medal at any level. Like Kenya’s gold, the medal was won at the Youth Olympic Games, not the senior Olympics.

Pool swimming continues

Pool swimming is scheduled to conclude on 6 November 2026. Muchirahondo also has the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in mind: he said that ambition would have remained regardless of his Dakar results, which he called a positive indicator.