Algerian Radio
Algeria confirmed its continental dominance in Artistic Gymnastics by adding six new medals to its tally during the apparatus finals of the 2026 African Championships, held this Saturday in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The success was highlighted by the coronation of Djenna Laroui on the Vault and Kaylia Nemour on the Uneven Bars.
Following their stellar performances in the opening days, Algerian gymnasts continued their strong run by securing six additional medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 3 Bronze), further cementing Algeria's position among the top competing nations in this edition.
The highlight of the day was delivered by Kaylia Nemour, who dominated the Uneven Bars event with a score of 14.400 points, finishing well ahead of South African Caitlin Rooskrantz (13.566 points) and fellow Algerian Djenna Laroui (12.866 points), who took the bronze. Kaylia Nemour also captivated the audience by performing a new technical element (a Stalder Tkatchev layout with a 1/2 turn), confirming her status as a global reference on this apparatus.
On the other hand, Djenna Laroui excelled on the Vault, claiming the Gold medal with a total of 12.950 points, surpassing South African Puli Nahaleko (12.800) and Egyptian Sirine Abou El Houda (12.766). By also winning the bronze on the Uneven Bars, Djenna Laroui achieved a remarkable double feat in her very first appearance with the national team.
In the men's category, Adam Cogat narrowly missed the gold in the Floor Exercise final, securing the Silver medal with a score of 12.700 points, just behind South African Daniel McLean (12.733). Third place went to Egyptian Mohamed Afifi (12.566), in a performance that underscores the consistent level of Algerian gymnastics throughout the competition.
Algerian men also shone on other apparatus, harvesting two more medals: a Silver won by Hossam Hammadouche on the Rings and a Bronze by Youcef Samani on the Pommel Horse, reflecting the competitiveness of the national squad.
With these results, Algeria’s total senior medal count has reached 11 (4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze), testifying to the continuous development of Algerian artistic gymnastics on the African stage.
This achievement follows a powerful start to the competition, marked notably by Kaylia Nemour's coronation in the Individual All-Around and the historic Gold medal for the Women’s Team, composed of Kaylia Nemour, Djenna Laroui, Louna Hammames-Moualik, Lina Khnoun, and Siham Hamidi. This historic feat earned Algeria its first-ever qualification for the World Championships as a team.
As the 19th edition of the African Championships nears its conclusion, with the final day dedicated to the junior apparatus finals, the Algerian delegation has secured a highly positive outcome, confirming its continental ambitions and sending a strong message ahead of future international events, particularly the 2026 World Championships.
The 19th edition of the African Artistic Gymnastics Championships, running until April 27 in Yaoundé, features 12 countries, with Algeria represented by 20 athletes in both the senior and junior categories.
