Daniel Saborío Mexico bronze medal 400m freestyle Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Digi Mart USA News (Dakar, Senegal): Mexican swimmer Daniel Saborío Grillo won the bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, a historic result that makes him the first Mexican swimmer to win a medal in swimming at this competition.
The 17-year-old, originally from Monterrey, Nuevo León, finished in 3 minutes, 52.72 seconds, which was also his best personal time in the event.
With this result, Saborío gave the Mexican delegation its first medal of the current edition of the Youth Olympic Games, held in Dakar, Senegal.
Saudi Arabia’s Rami Bilal Alrahmouni took first place with a time of 3:47.86, while Russia’s Bogdan Toropkin earned silver with 3:50.46.
Saborío’s performance marked a milestone for Mexican swimming at the youth event, which has been held four times previously without a Mexican swimmer reaching the podium.
The result carried special meaning for the swimmer, who was also chosen as flag bearer for the Mexican delegation at the opening ceremony.
He had already drawn attention in Dakar in the 100-meter freestyle, where he placed fifth with a time of 50.75 seconds.
After winning bronze, Saborío expressed his emotion at reaching the podium and acknowledged the effort required to get to the competition.
“This is the product of all the work that has been done and I am very grateful. I cried when I received my medal because it was very difficult to get here.
Mexicans can get wherever we set our minds to,” he said.
Saborío is part of Borregos Monterrey, the team of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, and has competed in international swimming events since his youth categories.
In 2026 he also earned notable results at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, winning medals in individual and relay events. His career also includes appearances at the 2025 World Junior Swimming Championships and the 2026 Pan Pacific Junior Championships.
With the bronze won in Dakar, Daniel Saborío joins the emerging young leaders of Mexican swimming and adds a historic achievement for the country at an international competition.
