Africa’s Historic Performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris 2024 Olympics marked a historic moment for Africa, as athletes from across the continent delivered their best performance yet on the global stage.

With a total of 39 medals, Africa’s talent and determination shone brightly, leaving a lasting legacy and filling the continent with immense pride.

A Golden Triumph for Africa

Kenya led the African medal tally with a total of 11 medals, including four golds, and finished as the African country with the most gold medals overall. Kenya also placed second globally in gold medals won for track and field events, a testament to the nation’s dominance in athletics.

Faith Kipyegon was a standout athlete, making history as the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1,500m gold medals. Her remarkable achievement was highlighted by breaking her own Olympic record.

Beatrice Chebet made headlines by winning gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events on her Olympic debut, becoming the first African woman to achieve an Olympic double – she is the third woman in history to pull off the double feat.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo claimed gold in the men’s 200m, setting an African record with a time of 19.46 seconds and Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda shattered Kenenisa Bekele’s Olympic record in the men’s 10,000m, running a blistering 26:43.14. He is now the Ugandan with the most Olympic medals.

Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour made history as Africa’s first Olympic gymnastics champion, winning gold on the uneven bars.

Winning their country’s only gold medal was Egypt’s Ahmed Elgendy set a new world record in Modern Pentathlon and Tunisia’s Firas Katoussi won the country’s only gold medal in Taekwondo too.

Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali added to Africa’s golden tally in the men’s 800m and 3,000m steeplechase, respectively.

Algeria’s Imane Khalif took home gold in boxing, and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola triumphed in the men’s marathon.

Silver Successes: Making History Beyond Gold

While gold medals often grab the headlines, Africa’s silver medalists at the Paris 2024 Olympics made history in ways that resonate deeply across the continent.

Kenya continued to show its prowess by adding two silver medals to its haul, with Faith Kipyegon securing silver in the women’s 5,000m, adding to her historic achievements in the 1,500m, and Ronald Kwemoi earning silver in the men’s 5,000m. These wins solidified Kenya’s position as a powerhouse in middle-distance running.

South Africa matched Ethiopia in silver medals, claiming three each, but it was South Africa’s Akani Simbine who truly captured the continent’s attention. After years of near-misses, Simbine anchored the 4x100m relay team to a historic silver, setting a new African record. The quartet’s performance, especially Simbine’s electrifying anchor leg, which was clocked at 8.78 seconds, marked the first-ever Olympic medal for South Africa in this event—a monumental achievement for the nation.

Ethiopia’s Berawi Aregawi, Tsige Duguma, and Tigst Assefa delivered strong performances, earning silver in the men’s 10,000m, women’s 800m, and women’s marathon, respectively. These medals not only highlighted Ethiopia’s depth in long-distance events but also showcased the resilience and determination of its athletes.

Tunisia’s Fares Ferjani brought home a silver in fencing, adding to the nation’s Olympic legacy. Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, who made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by becoming the first Ugandan woman to win gold, continued her stellar form by securing a silver in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Botswana’s 4x400m relay team also made a strong showing, earning a silver medal and adding to the country’s growing reputation in athletics adding another medal to Letsile Tebogo’s tally. 

Bronze Brilliance: Historic Firsts and Unforgettable Moments

Africa’s bronze medalists at Paris 2024 also made history, with several athletes and teams achieving significant milestones that will be remembered for years to come.

Kenya added five bronze medals to its tally, further solidifying its position as the leading African nation in athletics. Mary Moraa’s bronze in the women’s 800m, Faith Cherotich’s and Abraham Kibiwot’s performances in the 3,000m steeplechase events, and Hellen Obiri’s bronze in the marathon highlighted Kenya’s depth and versatility across multiple disciplines.

South Africa celebrated its bronze medals with pride, particularly in Rugby 7s, where the team’s performance was a moment of great joy for rugby enthusiasts across the country. Alan Hatherly’s bronze in MTB cross country added another chapter to South Africa’s Olympic story, marking the nation’s strength in diverse sporting disciplines.

Egypt’s Mohamed El Sayed earned a bronze in fencing, contributing to the country’s impressive medal tally. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati claimed bronze in the men’s 800m, continuing the nation’s tradition of excellence in middle-distance running. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Cheick Sallah Cissé and Tunisia’s Mohamed Jendoubi added bronze medals in Taekwondo, showcasing Africa’s growing presence in martial arts.

Morocco’s football team made history by securing the bronze medal, becoming the most decorated African football team at the Olympics. This achievement not only highlighted the strength of African football but also brought immense pride to the continent.

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga made history by winning the country’s first Olympic medal in 28 years, shattering the national record in the men’s 400m with an impressive time of 43.74 seconds. This remarkable feat marked a triumphant return for Zambia to the Olympic podium.

Cape Verde’s David de Pina made history by winning the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in boxing, a significant achievement that will inspire future generations of athletes from the small island nation.

Additionally, Cameroon-born Cindy Ngamba made a remarkable impact by winning the first-ever Olympic medal for the Refugee Team. Competing in the women’s 75kg boxing category, Ngamba’s bronze medal was a historic moment for the team and a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for displaced people worldwide.

Beyond the Podium

In addition to these incredible medal wins, African athletes made history in other significant ways. Guinea’s Fatouma Sylla became the first-ever athlete from her country to participate in archery, breaking new ground for her nation on the Olympic stage. Zambia’s Barbara Banda became the first female footballer to score three hat tricks at the Olympics, a feat that underscores her exceptional talent and determination.

Although Nigeria’s basketball team did not medal, they made history by becoming the first African basketball team to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympics, a significant milestone for the sport on the continent.

Stay Connected with African Athletes

Africa’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been nothing short of spectacular. With old records broken and new ones set, the continent has proven its prowess on the world stage, bringing home 39 medals across a wide range of sports.

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