Tirthank Pegu Targets LA 2028 Olympic Final After Historic Youth Olympics Bronze
Indian swimming sensation Tirthank Pegu has set his sights on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after creating history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The 17-year-old from Assam won bronze in the men’s 200m butterfly, becoming the first Indian male swimmer to secure a medal at the Youth Olympics.
Following his historic achievement, Pegu has expressed his ambition to reach the final at the LA 2028 Olympics. His medal-winning performance has given Indian swimming another reason for optimism as the country looks to make a stronger impact on the international stage.
Tirthank Pegu’s Historic Bronze in Dakar
Pegu clocked 2:01.25 in the men’s 200m butterfly final to finish third and claim the bronze medal. Egypt’s Zain Ali secured gold with a time of 1:57.88, while Vietnam’s Duong Van Hoang Quy won silver in 2:00.32.
The Indian swimmer had already demonstrated his potential during the heats, finishing first overall with a timing of 2:05.30 to qualify for the final.
His bronze medal was particularly significant as he became the first Indian male swimmer to win a medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
A Comeback After Narrowly Missing the 100m Butterfly Podium
Pegu’s historic achievement came after a disappointing result in the men’s 100m butterfly. He finished fourth in the event with a time of 54.98 seconds, missing the bronze medal by just 0.27 seconds.
The narrow miss affected his confidence ahead of the 200m butterfly final. However, he managed to overcome the disappointment and secure a place on the podium in his second event.
Pegu admitted that he had put considerable pressure on himself to win a medal and not disappoint his coach and supporters. Although he was slightly disappointed with his timing, he was happy to achieve his long-awaited Youth Olympic dream.
LA 2028 Olympics: Pegu’s Next Big Target
With the Youth Olympic bronze medal behind him, Pegu is already looking towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. He wants to qualify for the competition and achieve another milestone by becoming the first Indian swimmer to reach an Olympic swimming final.
The young swimmer also hopes to win medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, particularly at the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in India.
He has identified Indian swimming Olympian Sajan Prakash as one of his biggest inspirations and wants to follow his footsteps in the 200m butterfly event.
Father and Coach Behind His Swimming Journey
Pegu credited his father for inspiring him to take up swimming and turning the sport into his passion. He also acknowledged the influence of his coach, former Olympian Sandeep Sejwal, who played an important role in preparing him for the Youth Olympic Games.
The swimmer described the moment of celebrating his bronze medal with his coach as particularly special. He also dedicated his achievement to the people who supported him throughout his journey.
Sejwal’s decision to step away from coaching makes the medal an especially emotional milestone for the young swimmer.
A New Chapter for Indian Swimming
Pegu’s bronze medal, alongside Dhinidhi Desinghu’s achievements at Dakar 2026, marked a memorable campaign for Indian swimming. Dhinidhi also secured two bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events.
Pegu credited previous generations of Indian swimmers, including Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj, for helping create a pathway for young athletes. He believes the recent achievements are the result of years of consistent development rather than sudden success.
At just 17, Pegu has already established himself as one of India’s promising swimming talents. With LA 2028 now firmly in his sights, his historic Youth Olympic performance could prove to be an important starting point for bigger ambitions.
