In Dakar, as Senegal hosts the first Olympic Games to be held on the African continent, a new generation of athletes is writing an important chapter in the history of sport. Among them is Julian Jeang-Agliardi, Junior Peace Champion since 2022, who distinguished himself by winning the gold medal in street skateboarding. This victory is a fitting reward not only for a remarkable sporting career, but also for more than four years of commitment to peace and young people.
At just 16 years old, Julian Jeang-Agliardi is establishing himself as one of the rising stars in his sport. A Franco-American, born in California to an American mother and a father from the Côte d’Azur, he quickly developed a passion for skateboarding and has built an international sporting career.
During the street skateboarding competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Julian delivered a standout performance. With a total of 149.37 points – achieved through a run scored at 73.77 and a trick worth 75.60 – he finished ahead of the Dutchman Tijmen Overbeek (143.01 points) and the Swiss Simon Gerber (140.79 points), thereby securing his first Youth Olympic title.
But beyond this performance, Julian has for several years been committed to a cause that goes beyond the world of sport.
A young athlete committed to peace since 2022
On 14 August 2022, Julian was named Junior Peace Champion by Peace and Sport. At just 12 years old, he has already expressed his desire to use his passion for skateboarding to support causes close to his heart, particularly raising awareness of social issues such as gang violence and youth crime through action sports.
Upon his appointment, he said:
“I am convinced that sport can be a tremendous source of inspiration and a vehicle for inclusion and solidarity. That is why I am particularly excited to join Peace and Sport as an ambassador and to be able, in turn, to inspire others and help bring these values to life. ”
This appointment forms part of the initiative to create the Junior Peace Champions Club, spearheaded by Peace and Sport’s Founding President, Joël Bouzou, and its Vice-President, Didier Drogba. Both are convinced that young people have a vital role to play in tackling the challenges of tomorrow.
Since then, Julian has been fully involved in this project. In particular, he took part in the Peace and Sport International Forum in 2022, before representing the Champions of Peace at several international events, including the Ballon d’Or™ ceremony in 2025.
On 6 April, to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, he also addressed an audience of diplomats and international representatives at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It was an opportunity to speak on behalf of his generation and to highlight the role that sport can play in young people’s lives.
Several generations of Champions for Peace gathered in Dakar
Julian’s victory did not go unnoticed by the various Champions for Peace gathered in Dakar for the Youth Olympic Games. Among them were Cheick Sallah Cissé, an Olympic taekwondo champion from Côte d’Ivoire and a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission; Diana Gandega, an Olympian from Mali; and Benjamin Boukpeti, Togo’s first-ever Olympic medallist in canoeing. In Dakar, Julian’s triumph thus takes on a special significance: that of a young Champion of Peace who, having been inspired by his elders, is in turn becoming a source of inspiration for future generations.
Cheick Sallah Cissé emphasises:“Julian represents a generation of athletes who understand that sport is about more than just performance. His journey shows that it is possible to pursue sporting ambitions whilst upholding values and commitments that matter to others. ”
Diana Gandega adds:“Seeing a young athlete like Julian commit to peace at such an early age is a source of hope. Young people have a special ability to convey messages and mobilise their peers. It is important to give them the space and the means to do so.”
Benjamin Boukpeti also shares this conviction:“The Peace Champions Club demonstrates the full power of a collective of committed athletes, from different disciplines and generations, who put their experience and influence at the service of peace. Julian’s journey perfectly illustrates this dynamic: that of a new generation which, in turn, is getting involved and finding sources of inspiration and motivation in their elders.”
Believing in one’s dreams and inspiring others to believe in them too
By winning gold in Dakar, Julian Jeang-Agliardi has reached a major milestone in his young career. His journey also serves as a reminder that an athlete can be both an ambitious competitor and a committed advocate for his generation.
Through his journey and his commitment since 2022, Julian exemplifies the work carried out by Peace and Sport to support young athletes in their role as ambassadors and to encourage them to use their profile and passion for sport to promote peace.
A gold medal for Julian, but also a message to an entire generation: believe in your dreams and find, through sport, the means to make them grow.
