Closing of the Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026: what position for Algeria?

The curtain falls on Taranto. The Algerian delegation concludes the 2026 Mediterranean Games with a total of 40 medals, including 13 gold, 8 silver, and 19 bronze. This result places Algeria ninth in the overall standings of this twentieth edition. Furthermore, no Algerian team has previously achieved such a high number of distinctions outside the country.

The final day was filled with success. Said Amari won the 10,000 meters race, while Mehdi Boulousa triumphed against Egyptian Youcef Abdelaziz in the final with a score of 4-2. Mohamed Seif Boukartaba also added to the tally by securing a silver medal in the half marathon.

Said Amari crowns Algerian athletics in the 10,000 meters

The Algerian long-distance runners aimed to finish on a high note. Amari dominated his race from start to finish, claiming victory on Italian soil and providing his federation with one of the last titles of the fortnight. This win adds to an already impressive collection in athletics.

This discipline has once again been the spearhead of the delegation. Before Amari, Djamel Sedjati triumphed in the 800 meters with the authority of one of the world’s best runners at this distance. Yasser Triki secured the triple jump on his first attempts.

The half marathon also brought a final prize. Boukartaba kept pace with the leading pack throughout the race before giving way in the final sprint, without losing merit. His silver illustrates the renewed depth of national long-distance running.

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A total of 40 medals never achieved outside Algeria

The numbers speak for themselves. With 13 gold, 8 silver, and 19 bronze medals, Algeria marks its second-best performance in the history of the Mediterranean Games. Only the Oran 2022 edition, held in front of a supportive crowd, shows a better record.

This distinction is significant. Competing far from home, without the advantage of local support or the enthusiasm of local fans, changes the game for many athletes. This is precisely what gives weight to Algeria's ninth place in the final table, in a competition where European countries often field larger teams.

The momentum was established from the early days when wrestler Abdelkrim Fergat opened the medal count in Greco-Roman wrestling by dominating his Egyptian opponent 10-1. This kickoff liberated the rest of the delegation.

Gymnastics and football propelled the Algerian delegation

It’s hard to talk about Taranto without mentioning Kaylia Nemour. The Olympic champion swept the titles on the Italian apparatus, from the all-around to the uneven bars, including the balance beam. Her third crown, obtained mid-week, firmly positioned gymnastics among the most successful disciplines of the national contingent.

Football also made its mark. The U21 team lifted the trophy after defeating Tunisia in the final with a score of 2-0, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. This title fuels a generation that experts are closely monitoring for the senior national team.

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A diversity of disciplines behind Algeria's total

The richness of this achievement is also found in its distribution. The 3×3 basketball team reached the podium after dominating Turkey, indicating that less-publicized team sports are progressing.

The 19 bronze medals tell another story. They demonstrate a delegation capable of reaching the finals in a large number of events, even when the title narrowly escapes them. It is often at this level that the true health of a national sport is measured.

Now, the challenge is to turn this harvest into a springboard. Several of the medalists from Taranto are already included in projections for upcoming continental and world events, and Algeria's performance in this edition provides a solid foundation ahead of future engagements, particularly with the 2028 Olympic Games in San Francisco on the horizon.

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