ATHLETICS - The African Mirror

Sep

22

2025

African Thunder: Dominant performances light up Tokyo

ATHLETICS

THE floodlights of Tokyo's Japan National Stadium cast an ethereal glow through the rain-soaked evening air, but nothing could dim the blazing brilliance of Africa's athletic royalty as they rewrote the script of global athletics in the most spectacular fashion imaginable. Kenya's Golden Sweep: The Queens of Distance Reign Supreme In the most audacious display of middle and long-distance dominance ever witnessed at a World Championships, Kenya's women didn't just win medals – they conquered an entire spectrum of races with the ruthless efficiency of an unstoppable force of nature. The crescendo came when 26-year-old Lilian Odira, a mother of…

Sep

19

2025

By The African Mirror

Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi blazes to 400m world title in stunning 43.53, secures Africa’s sprinting glory with double podium triumph

ATHLETICS

BOTSWANA’S Busang Collen Kebinatshipi has announced himself as Africa’s brightest new sprint star with a breathtaking gold-medal performance in the men's 400m at the World Championships. Kebinatshipi clocked a scintillating 43.53 seconds - the fastest time in the event this year - to claim the world title, stunning the crowd and outpacing a fierce challenge from Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who finished second in 43.72. In a thrilling display of Botswana’s growing sprinting power, Bayapo Ndori added a second medal to the country’s haul by surging through the pack to take bronze with a strong 44.20 finish. Jamaican’ Rusheen…

Sep

18

2025

By SPORTS REPORTER

AFRICAN THUNDER ROCKS TOKYO: Continental stars claim championship glory

ATHLETICS

THE Land of the Rising Sun witnessed an African lightning strike on Wednesday as the continent's finest athletes lit up the Tokyo Olympic Stadium with a breathtaking display of speed, power and pure determination that left 68,000 spectators roaring in appreciation. Kenya's Faith Cherotich delivered the performance of her young life, obliterating the championship record to claim steeplechase gold in a time that will echo through athletics history. The 21-year-old warrior from the Rift Valley transformed years of heartbreak into pure golden magic, scorching through the final 600 metres like a woman possessed. "I knew this was my time," declared…

Sep

17

2025

By The African Mirror

Queen Kipyegon makes history as Africa shines in Tokyo

ATHLETICS

IN a performance that will be etched in athletics folklore, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon delivered a masterclass of middle-distance running to claim her historic fourth world championship title in the women's 1500 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, cementing her status as the greatest ever in the discipline. The 31-year-old queen of middle distance left no doubt about her supremacy, scorching to victory in a commanding 3:52.15 - nearly three seconds clear of compatriot Dorcus Ewoi in what was both a statement of dominance and a coronation of greatness. With this golden triumph, Kipyegon has achieved what no woman…

Sep

16

2025

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith: Africa’s eternal sprint queen

ATHLETICS

IN the bustling streets of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a football-loving girl would one day transform into Africa's most celebrated sprinter. Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith's journey from the dusty pitches where she first showed her speed to the gleaming tracks of world championships reads like sporting folklore. Born on November 18, 1988, her transition from football boots to sprint spikes in 2008 marked the beginning of a revolution in African athletics - one that would see her outrun seasoned athletes even while barefoot during her initial trials. What makes Ta Lou-Smith's story so captivating isn't just her raw speed, but the audacious…

Sep

15

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

African excellence shines bright at Tokyo 2025 World Championships

ATHLETICS

THE National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, has once again become a theatre of dreams for African athletics, as the continent's finest sprinters and distance runners delivered performances that will be etched in the annals of track and field history. The 2025 World Athletics Championships has showcased Africa's enduring dominance in distance running while revealing exciting new chapters in the continent's sprinting renaissance. Kenya's Golden Dawn: Chebet Breaks the Drought The championships opened with a moment of pure magic as Kenya's Beatrice Chebet stormed to victory in the women's 10,000 meters, delivering Kenya's first gold medal and ending a decade-long wait…

Jul

11

2025

By The African Mirror

Two champions, Two battles: The fight for fair competition in women’s sports

ATHLETICS

IN the world of elite athletics, where fractions of seconds and millimetres can determine victory or defeat, two African champions have found themselves fighting battles that extend far beyond the track and ring. Their stories, separated by sport but united by struggle, illuminate a complex intersection of human rights, scientific integrity, and the evolving definition of fair competition in women's sports. Caster Semenya's Pyrrhic Victory On Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered what could be considered both a victory and a reminder of justice delayed. The court ruled that Caster Semenya,…

Jun

21

2025

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: Akani Simbine eyes LA gold and insists the best is yet to come

ATHLETICS

AFTER a decade of carrying South African sprinting hopes on his shoulders, Akani Simbine is finally reaping the rewards of years of hard work—and with the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games 2028 on the horizon, his story may yet have more chapters to write. Simbine’s decade-long service as South Africa’s sprinting flag bearer is now delivering long-awaited results as he positions himself as a key figure for Team South Africa heading into Los Angeles (LA). With the drought for a major global medal finally over - following his Olympic and World Indoor Championships podium finishes - the future looks increasingly…

Jun

09

2025

By The African Mirror

Tete Dijana, Gerda Steyn lead African charge at 2025 Comrades Marathon

ATHLETICS

SOUTH African athletes delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 Comrades Marathon, with Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn capturing the men’s and women’s titles respectively in a dramatic down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Tete Dijana, running for the Nedbank Running Club, claimed his third Comrades Marathon crown, finishing in 5:25:28 after a gripping duel with Dutch defending champion Piet Wiersma. The Mahikeng native, who previously won in 2022 and 2023, surged ahead with 16 kilometres remaining and held off Wiersma by just five seconds in one of the closest finishes in recent memory. Dijana’s victory marks a…

May

28

2025

By The African Mirror

The bright future of South African 100m sprinting: a new era dawns

ATHLETICS

SOUTH Africa’s sprinting scene is blazing with unprecedented brilliance, heralding a golden era in the 100m dash that promises to captivate the world for years to come. At the heart of this electrifying momentum is none other than Akani Simbine, the nation’s sprinting titan, whose recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular. Akani Simbine continues to dominate the 100m sprint with an ironclad grip on the title of South Africa’s fastest man. Remaining unbeaten this season, Simbine has consistently shattered the sub-10-second barrier, a feat that cements his status among the global elite. His latest victory at the prestigious…