Peruvian swimmer Doménico Sotomayor has secured an Olympic diploma at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after finishing sixth in the men's 200-metre freestyle.
Sotomayor clocked a time of 1:52.80 in the final to rank among the top eight swimmers in the event, securing Peru's third Olympic diploma of the competition.
His result marked an important advance for Peruvian sport, demonstrating the swimmer's preparation and talent against an elite international field in the pool. The 200-metre freestyle is one of swimming's most demanding events, contested over four lengths of a standard 50-metre Olympic pool.
Óscar Fernández, the president of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD), congratulated Sotomayor on his performance and said the swimmer's achievement was a source of national pride. Fernández also commended the overall showing of the nation's young competitors at the international event.
An Olympic diploma is an official certificate awarded by the International Olympic Committee to athletes who place between first and eighth in an event. While medals are reserved for the podium finishers in the top three positions, diplomas provide formal recognition to every finalist who reaches the top tier of an Olympic competition.
Peruvian delegation in Dakar
The Youth Olympic Games bring together competitors aged 14 to 18 from around the world. The 2026 event in Dakar, Senegal, is the fourth summer edition and marks the first time an Olympic tournament has taken place on the African continent.
Sotomayor is a member of the IPD Athlete Support Programme, a state initiative that provides resources and backing to elite competitors. Six other Peruvian athletes on the programme are also taking part in Dakar: Natzumi Aquije, Samuel Duffoo, Stacy Rodríguez, Thiago Goyzueta, Astrid Bravo, and Yesús Perea, each contesting different sports.
In total, Peru's national delegation consists of 15 athletes competing across 11 different sports disciplines. The team includes competitors in athletics, cycling, rowing, skateboarding, taekwondo, swimming, and sailing, strengthening the country's sporting presence in Dakar.
