Ruth Gbagbi, a two-time Olympic medalist from Ivory Coast, has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee as a « role model athlete » to support young participants in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Drawing on her champion’s career, she will share her experience with the new generation of athletes.
The first major Olympic event to be held in Africa, the Dakar Youth Olympic Games will also bring together experienced athletes tasked with mentoring the young participants. Among them is Ruth Gbagbi. Selected by the International Olympic Committee, the Ivorian taekwondo athlete will be part of a group of 31 international athletes responsible for sharing their high-level experience and promoting the values of Olympism. This appointment comes the day after she won a silver medal at the G1 International Open in La Nucía, Spain.
« Proud and grateful to have been chosen by the International Olympic Committee as a role model athlete for the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Passing on the values of sport with heart and commitment! »
Ruth Gbagbi, Two-time Olympic medalist in taekwondo – Côte d’Ivoire
Born on February 7, 1994, in Abidjan, Ruth Gbagbi discovered taekwondo at the age of nine. She joined the national junior and senior teams in 2009 and quickly began competing at the continental and world levels. Her career took off at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she won bronze and became the first Ivorian woman to win an Olympic medal. She added a second Olympic medal in Tokyo in 2021 and also won two world titles. On May 31, 2026, in Bamako, Mali, she secured her eighth consecutive African title in the under-62 kg category.
« In Dakar, our mission will be to share our experience at the elite level, transmit the values of Olympism, and support young athletes on their journey. »
Ruth Gbagbi, Two-time Olympic medalist in taekwondo – Côte d’Ivoire
Beyond competition, Ruth Gbagbi holds several responsibilities. President of the African Taekwondo Union’s Athletes’ Commission since 2023, she is also involved in various youth and sports initiatives. An ambassador for several organizations, including UNESCO and the Heart Angel Foundation, she will participate in Dakar 2026 in a role different from her presence on the tatami: that of guide and mentor to the new generation of African and international athletes.
