Cuba continued their dominance in Baseball5, overcoming Chinese Taipei in the gold-medal final to become the first-ever Youth Olympic champions in the discipline.
The world’s top-ranked team arrived in Dakar as favourites and delivered when it mattered most, winning in straight sets to secure another major title.
The victory also marked a remarkable turnaround for the Cubans, who had lost to Chinese Taipei during the group stage before producing a much-improved performance in the final.
Cuba head coach Sergio Arturo Perez Echevarria credited his players' mentality and focus for the victory, highlighting the importance of putting their earlier defeat behind them.
Jean Carlos Machado Casado also praised the team's dedication, revealing that demanding training sessions in extremely hot conditions back home in Cuba had helped prepare them for the competition.
Despite missing out on gold, Chinese Taipei celebrated a historic silver medal after an impressive campaign.
Player Hsu Tzuyi described reaching the final as a significant achievement, revealing that the team had initially started without knowing how to play Baseball5 before working hard to reach the Olympic podium.
Meanwhile, Mexico claimed the bronze medal after defeating Kenya 2-1.
BASEBALL5 MEDAL RESULTS – DAKAR 2026
🥇 Cuba – Gold
🥈 Chinese Taipei – Silver
🥉 Mexico – Bronze
Cuba's triumph marks a milestone for Baseball5, which celebrated its inaugural appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, as the next generation of athletes showcased the sport on the global stage.
Photo: Lillie Yazdi/OIS/IOC
