Brilliant Bronze for Australian Duo – Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Wrap
It was a straight-sets bronze medal victory for Thomas Turner (QLD) and Ryan Edgar (QLD) over Brazil at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, capping off an outstanding year for the Queensland duo.
The Australians put the Brazilian pair under pressure early, dominating at the net and forcing errors. Turner and Edgar carried that momentum through the first set, winning it 21-8.
The second set was tight, with the teams going point for point until Turner served three consecutive aces to build a lead midway through. It proved enough, and the pair held on to secure the win and the podium result.
Turner said he was lost for words on what the result meant to him and his teammate.
“It just wraps up the year for us. Three international tournaments this year, three podiums. It’s just really cool to see that we can compete and match it with some of the best players in the world,” he said.
Turner said Dakar had been the highlight of their international season, which also included a U18 World Championships medal.
“This one’s definitely been my favourite international stop of the year. The culture here is awesome. I love this place. It’s absolutely gorgeous and everyone that I meet here is so friendly and so welcoming. It’s really cool.”
Edgar said that after losing their semifinal to Austria the day before, the pair regrouped to work out how to bounce back and secure Australia’s second medal of the Youth Olympic Games.
“After we lost yesterday in the semifinal, we had a think about what we could do better and how we can really bring it today. We sort of just mastered everything we could in the pre-game. Really good preparation, really good warm-up, and then ready to just 100% bring it as soon as the game started,” Edgar said.
The Aussie pair had plenty of green and gold support for the bronze medal match, including their families, who have been cheering from the stands at the beach in Saly, Senegal, since day one.
“It’s pretty special for me because obviously they are on the whole journey. They support me through everything, and I wouldn’t be here without them,” Turner said.
Edgar said the support of both families and the Australian team had been important in Senegal.
“It makes us feel at home away from home. Having everyone we love to be here, just right outside the court supporting for every single point, no matter what happens. It makes us feel very special,” Edgar said.
The result caps off a remarkable year for the pair. Turner and Edgar, who have been partners for more than two years, won the Australian U18 title and then went undefeated to claim gold at the inaugural Asian U18 Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. That win booked their place at the U18 World Championships in The Netherlands, where they reached the final and took silver, Australia’s first medal in the history of the men’s U18 event.
The pair are just getting started, and being immersed in the Olympic atmosphere has only fuelled their ambition to compete at Brisbane 2032.
“Brisbane 2032, we’ll do our best to be there,” Edgar said.
