AFRICAN countries have made significant achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals.
Kenyan Faith Kipyegon sealed her status as a legend of African and World athletics when she shattered the Olympic record and won the third consecutive gold medal in the women’s 1500m.
Another Kenyan legend is Beatrice Chebet, the Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m races, becoming the third woman in history to win both these races at the same Olympic games.
In a dazzling display of athletic prowess, Ahmed Elgendy etched his name into the annals of Olympic history, blazing a trail for Egypt and Africa in the hallowed grounds of the Palace of Versailles. With the golden sun of Paris as his witness, Elgendy shattered world records and expectations alike, clinching Egypt’s first gold medal of the Games in the gruelling Modern Pentathlon.
Amidst the regal splendour of Versailles, Elgendy’s performance was nothing short of majestic. He amassed a staggering 1,555 points, a feat never before achieved in the sport’s storied history. Even as he eased his pace in the final moments, his dominance remained unchallenged, a testament to his unparalleled skill and determination.
The podium gleamed with global diversity as Japan’s Taishu Sato claimed silver and Italy’s Giorgio Malan secured bronze, uniting three continents in a moment of Olympic glory. But it was Elgendy who stood tallest, his victory a clarion call echoing across the African continent.
This triumph wasn’t just a personal best for Elgendy; it was a watershed moment for African athletics. Building upon his silver medal performance in Tokyo, Elgendy has now elevated himself and his nation to the pinnacle of Modern Pentathlon. His golden achievement blazes a trail for future generations of African athletes, proving that in the realm of Olympic greatness, no barrier is insurmountable. Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola won gold in the men’s marathon at the Paris Games on Saturday and was congratulated by the legendary Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia’s former double Olympic 10,000m champion. A major disappointment was Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who had been bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic crown but failed to finish. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto won bronze.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 800 metres on Saturday, securing his country’s fifth consecutive Olympic title in the event. The 20-year-old Wanyonyi defeated an impressive field, blazed to a time of one minute 41.19 seconds, making him the third fastest man ever over the distance. The world silver medallist narrowly missed the world record of 1:40.91 set by Kenya’s David Rudisha at the 2012 London Olympics, in laying down the fifth fastest time ever run. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati crossed the line in 1:41.50 for bronze.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif, the female boxer thrust into the centre of a gender dispute at the Paris Games, made a statement on her womanhood after beating China’s Yang Liu to take the welterweight Olympic gold medal.
Khelif, who won by unanimous decision, is the first Algerian woman to earn an Olympic boxing title and the first boxer from her country to claim gold since Hocine Soltani at Atlanta 1996. Women’s boxing has been in the Olympics since London 2012.
South Africa has a new quartet of silver-medal heroes. The awesome foursome of Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bayanda Walaza and Bradely Nkoana finished second in the Olympic men’s 4x100m and set a national record time of 37.57. Their victory brought Team SA’s Olympic tally to five medals.
Botswana is still celebrating its golden boy, Letsile Tebogo who won gold in the 200m in front of a packed Stade de France. Tebogo paid a golden tribute to his mom Seratiwa when he defeated strong opposition, including Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles and fellow American Kenneth Bednarek.
