Simon Shan wins Canada’s first gold at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
Simon Shan, 16, won Canada’s first gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics after defeating Serbia’s Vukan Radjenovic 15-9 in men’s épée. Boxers Mehreen Khakh and Lisandro Garcia Rebelo added bronze medals, bringing Canada’s total to five.
Simon Shan delivered Canada’s first gold medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Wednesday, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Serbia’s Vukan Radjenovic 15-9 in the men’s épée fencing final.
The 16-year-old from West Vancouver, British Columbia, completed an impressive comeback at the Dakar Expo Centre, turning a 7-5 deficit into a six-point victory to claim the biggest title of his young international career.
Shan’s triumph highlighted a three-medal day for Team Canada, with boxers Mehreen Khakh and Lisandro Garcia Rebelo also earning bronze medals in their respective weight divisions.
The results brought Canada’s medal total to five at the Youth Olympic Games, adding to earlier podium finishes in judo and skateboarding.
Simon Shan completes comeback to claim fencing gold
Shan entered the men’s épée final against Radjenovic with considerable international experience despite his age.
The Canadian had already established himself among the leading young fencers in his category, winning silver at the 2026 World Cadet Championships after earning bronze at the same competition in 2025.
However, Wednesday’s final required another demonstration of his ability to respond under pressure.
Radjenovic established a 7-5 advantage midway through the bout, leaving Simon Shan needing to regain control against an opponent who had been effective during the opening exchanges.
The Canadian eventually found the attacking rhythm he had been searching for, turning the contest around and outscoring his opponent 10-2 from that point.
Simon Shan finished with a 15-9 victory, securing Canada’s first gold medal of the Games.
“I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet,” Shan said following the final. “I’m just very grateful to be able to come here, represent Canada and win.”
The West Vancouver athlete explained that finding the right action midway through the contest changed his confidence and helped him take control.
“I was down 7-5 in the middle of the bout, but once I got one of the actions that I wanted, the rest kind of flowed in, and I felt very confident,” he said.
Simon Shan also credited his development in managing emotions during competition, identifying a more composed approach as an important part of his progress.
“Before, I was a little bit more crazy but now, as I’ve grown up, I’ve calmed down more and matured.”
His victory adds a Youth Olympic gold medal to a growing international résumé that already includes two World Cadet Championship podium finishes.
Mehreen Khakh and Lisandro Garcia Rebelo win boxing bronze
Canada’s success on Wednesday extended beyond fencing, with two 17-year-old boxers adding medals to the national total.
Mehreen Khakh of Kitchener, Ontario, earned bronze in the women’s 51-kilogram division, securing another podium finish for Team Canada.
Lisandro Garcia Rebelo of Mississauga, Ontario, also claimed bronze, competing in the men’s 55-kilogram category.
Their results gave Canada three medals on the same day, with Shan’s gold providing the headline achievement.
The two boxing medals also added to Ontario’s representation among Canada’s medallists in Dakar, with both athletes coming from communities in the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario.
While Simon Shan delivered Canada’s first gold, Khakh and Garcia Rebelo ensured the country’s medal count continued to grow across multiple sports.
Team Canada reaches five medals at Dakar 2026
Wednesday’s results increased Canada’s total to five medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The first two medals had arrived earlier in the competition through judo and skateboarding.
Anes Mati, a 17-year-old from Anjou, Quebec, earned silver in judo, while 14-year-old Evie Pritchard of Nanaimo, British Columbia, secured bronze in skateboarding.
Combined with Wednesday’s fencing and boxing results, Canada’s medal tally now stands at one gold, one silver and three bronze.
The five medallists represent British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, reflecting contributions from athletes competing across four different sports.
For Simon Shan, Wednesday’s gold was the culmination of a comeback performance against an opponent who had held the advantage midway through the final.
For Team Canada, it marked the country’s first victory atop the podium in Dakar and another significant day at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
