Romanian swimmer Daria Silișteanu qualified on Thursday morning for the 50 m backstroke final at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, attempting to secure Romania's third medal at this edition of the competition. The athlete swam in the fifth heat and finished the race with a time of 29.20 seconds, placing third overall in the qualification standings. [2]

The 50 m backstroke final will take place on the afternoon of November 5, 2026, at 17:00 Romanian Time. Silișteanu, coached by Andrei Pinticanu, has the resources to return to the top step of the podium. This year, she was the Junior European Champion in Germany, in Munich, in the same 50 m backstroke event, with a time of 27.94 seconds, a new national record for the age categories of 17, 18, and over 19 years. [2]

Up to this point, Daria Silișteanu has brought Romania two medals from the Dakar Youth Olympic Games: gold in the 100 m backstroke and silver in the 100 m butterfly. With these results, the young swimmer has already entered the elite of the most decorated Romanian athletes at the YOG, alongside gymnast Andrei Muntean (gold and silver at Singapore 2010), swimmer Daniel Martin (two silvers at Buenos Aires 2018), and athlete Bianca Răzor (silver and bronze at Singapore 2010). [2]

As the story develops

Update

Daria Silișteanu wins her third gold medal at the Dakar 2026 YOG in the 50 m backstroke

Romanian swimmer Daria Silișteanu won the 50 m backstroke event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, securing Romania's third gold medal at this edition of the competition. The athlete, coached by Andrei Pinticanu, confirmed her status as favorite and national ranking leader in this discipline. [3]

With this victory, Daria Silișteanu completes her Dakar haul with three gold medals: in the 100 m backstroke, 50 m backstroke, and one silver in the 100 m butterfly. These results consolidate her place in the elite of decorated Romanian YOG athletes, alongside gymnast Andrei Muntean (Singapore 2010), swimmer Daniel Martin (Buenos Aires 2018), and athlete Bianca Răzor (Singapore 2010). [3]

Update

Daria Silișteanu wins gold in the 50 m backstroke at the Dakar 2026 YOG

Daria Silișteanu secured Romania's third medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, winning gold in the 50 m backstroke. This latest victory completes her Dakar record with two gold medals (100 m backstroke and 50 m backstroke) and one silver (100 m butterfly), as the pupil of coach Andrei Pinticanu climbs back to the highest step of the podium. The 50 m backstroke competition took place on November 10, 2026, following the earlier medals won in the first days of the tournament. [4]

Update

Daria Silișteanu breaks the national record in the 50 m backstroke at the Dakar 2026 YOG

Swimmer Daria Silișteanu broke the national record for age categories 17, 18, and over 19 in the 50 m backstroke event with a time of 27.93 seconds at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. [5]

The gold medal was awarded directly by Octavian Morariu, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Romania, during the awards ceremony organized at the Tour de L’Oef complex. [5]

According to the athlete from Fălticeni, the secret behind her performance lies in “work, ambition, and seriousness.” [5]

The athlete stated that she would celebrate the performance through training, given her participation in the National Championships upon returning to the country. [5]

Update

Daria Silișteanu wins gold in the 50 m backstroke at the Dakar 2026 YOG

Romanian swimmer Daria Silișteanu won the gold medal in the 50 m backstroke event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, advancing in the ranking of decorated Romanian athletes at this competition. Silișteanu finished the race with a time of 27.93 seconds, setting a new national record for the senior category, according to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR). South Korean Seungwon Kim placed second with 28.21 seconds, while Argentine Cecilia Dieleke took bronze with 28.83 seconds. [6]

This victory completes Daria Silișteanu’s Dakar record with two golds (50 m backstroke, 100 m backstroke) and one silver (100 m butterfly). The Summer Youth Olympic Games are being held for the first time in Africa, in Senegal, between October 31 and November 13, 2026. The Romanian delegation participates with 16 athletes across 10 sports disciplines. [6]

Update

Daria Silișteanu wins gold in the 50 m backstroke at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Romanian swimmer Daria Silișteanu, registered with CSM Constanța, won the gold medal in the 50 m backstroke event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, setting a new national record. With this victory, the athlete from Fălticeni completes her record at this edition with two gold medals in the 50 and 100 m backstroke, and one silver in the 100 m butterfly. The swimmer finished the final race with a time of 27.93 seconds, beating her previous national record by a tenth of a second, which she had set earlier at the European Junior Championships in Munich, where she recorded 27.94 seconds. [7]

These results constitute the only medals obtained by the Romanian delegation at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, where 16 athletes competed in 10 sports disciplines. Daria Silișteanu’s individual performance places her, furthermore, among the elite of decorated Romanian athletes at this competition, alongside gymnast Andrei Muntean, swimmer Daniel Martin, and athlete Bianca Răzor. In the 50 m backstroke final, Silișteanu finished first, surpassing South Korean Seungwon Kim, who won silver with 28.21 seconds, and Argentine Cecilia Deleke, who took bronze with 28.83 seconds. [7]

Daria Silișteanu’s journey in Dakar was marked by remarkable consistency, as the athlete stood on the podium after each of the six races contested during the competition. [7]

At 17 years old, the results achieved in Dakar mark a distinct moment in the swimmer’s career, making her one of the key figures of Romanian youth swimming. [7]

Before the performance in Dakar, only two other Romanian swimmers had won medals at the Youth Olympic Games: Răzvan Mihai Tudosie, who won bronze in the 50 m breaststroke in 2010 in Singapore, and Daniel Martin, who won two silver medals in the 100 and 200 m backstroke in 2018 in Buenos Aires. [7]

On the international stage, Daria Silișteanu has an impressive record in the junior category, including two gold medals won at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival in the 100 m backstroke and 4x100 m freestyle. [7]

The athlete consolidated her status as world junior leader through three consecutive European titles, won in 2024, 2025, and 2026, in the 50 and 100 m backstroke events. At the 2025 World Junior Championships, the Romanian ranked second in the 100 m backstroke. [7]

Currently, Daria Silișteanu holds the national records in the 50 and 100 m backstroke and is considered a future potential candidate for elite swimming events. [7]

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Sources

  1. MediaFax Aur pentru România la Dakar! Daria Silișteanu câștigă a doua medalie
  2. News.ro Jocurile Olimpice de tineret: Daria Silişteanu, în finala probei de 50 m spate. Ea va lupta pentru a treia medalie a României
  3. News.ro Daria Silişteanu a cucerit a 3-a medalie pentru România la Jocurile Olimpice pentru Tineret - Aur la 50 m spate
  4. stirileprotv.ro Aur pentru România la Jocurile Olimpice de Tineret. Daria Silișteanu a cucerit a treia medalie în trei probe
  5. News.ro Daria Silişteanu: Mă bucur mult şi de medalia de aur, dar şi că am doborât recordul naţional, chiar dacă la numai o sutime de secundă
  6. AGERPRES JOT 2026: Înotătoarea Daria Silișteanu a cucerit medalia de aur la 50 m spate
  7. SpotMedia Daria Silișteanu, pe urmele lui David Popovici: A câștigat a treia medalie la Jocurile Olimpice de Tineret. Aur și record național la 50 m spate