At just 16 years of age, Michael Maughan and Lily Bassett have been announced as the first two athletes selected to represent Team GB at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in the Senegalese capital from 31 October to 13 November. The two boxers have recently established themselves among the finest young talents in international boxing and will be aiming to bring home gold medals in a sport where Britain has long enjoyed a tradition of excellence.
Two Rising Stars Looking to Continue Britain’s Boxing Legacy
South London boxer Lily Bassett has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in British women’s boxing. Competition after competition, she has continued to build her reputation and already boasts three consecutive European junior titles. She will compete in the under-48kg division in Dakar later this year.
Her recent international performances have only strengthened that standing. Last March, at the U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok, Bassett claimed the gold medal following an outstanding campaign. Facing opponents from Botswana, Mongolia, Türkiye, Romania and India, she showcased the full extent of her talent, stopping three of her five opponents before the final bell. The triumph marked her first major success on the world stage and could serve as a springboard towards further glory in Dakar.
Michael Maughan is following a similarly impressive trajectory. The Stockport and Brinnington Boxing Club fighter captured his first European junior title last year on his debut appearance at a continental championship. The achievement immediately established him as one of Britain’s leading prospects in the under-70kg category.
Maughan was also part of the squad that travelled to Bangkok in the spring. Although his tournament ended at the quarter-final stage, the young Briton gained valuable experience against some of the world’s best boxers in his weight class. His blend of power, tactical discipline and rapid development has caught the eye, and those qualities help explain why he has earned an early call-up for this Olympic event.
Recent history shows that the Youth Olympic Games can act as a launchpad towards the highest level of the sport. At the most recent edition in Buenos Aires in 2018, British boxing enjoyed a remarkable campaign, with Caroline Dubois, Karol Itauma and Ivan Hope Price all winning gold medals, while Hassan Azim secured bronze. Four medals from four boxers entered underlined the strength of Britain’s youth programme.
That success remains the benchmark for the current generation. Eight years later, Bassett and Maughan now have the opportunity to write their own chapter in British boxing history. Both teenagers will undoubtedly travel to Senegal with the ambition of returning home as Youth Olympic champions.
