The penultimate day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was marked by an exceptional performance from African athletes who hauled a total of 11 medals, breaking records and confirming the continent’s rise to prominence on the world athletics stage.
Kenya Radiates Gold
Accustomed to podium finishes in athletics, Kenya once again held sway in the long distances. The emblematic Emmanuel Wanyonyi led the charge, securing the gold medal in the 800m race with a breath-taking time of 1:41:19. Wanyonyi, who has consistently risen through the ranks in recent years, gave Kenya its umpteenth title over this distance. This victory, added to the previous wins, firmly establishes Kenya’s dominance in the middle-distance event.
Ethiopia, Always at the Top
Ethiopia, Kenya’s neighbour and eternal rival on the track, was not to be outdone. In the 5,000m, another of the continent’s favourite events, Ethiopia’s Ronald Kwemoi won silver, adding another medal to his country’s impressive record. The duel with Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, winner of the event, lived up to all its promises, and despite being outpaced, Kwemoi showed remarkable talent and a tenacity worthy of the greatest.
Botswana Rising on the Sprint Scene
Botswana proved once again that they are not just outsiders in the sprint, but genuine contenders. The 4x400m relay team, led by young wonderboy, Letsile Tebogo, won a historic silver medal, the second medal for the country at these Games after Tebogo’s gold in the 200m race. This performance confirms Botswana’s meteoric rise on the world sprint stage and promises a bright future for the country’s athletes.
South Africa in Silver
South Africa also made its mark on the day with a brilliant performance in the 4x100m relay, where the team won a silver medal. The South African relay team, always competitive, managed to reach the podium thanks to perfect coordination and impressive speed, reminiscent of the country’s past successes in this discipline.
Egypt and the World Record
Among the other high points, Egypt’s Ahmed Elgendy won gold in the modern pentathlon, setting a new world record with a total of 1,555 points. His consistency and mastery of the various events enabled him to establish himself as the best pentathlete in the competition, earning Egypt a memorable gold medal.
Africa at the Top
With these impressive performances, Africa has shown that it remains a force to reckon with in world athletics. These 11 medals won on the final day of athletics at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 cap an exceptional Olympic campaign for the continent. These athletes, who distinguished themselves through their talent and determination, have flown African colours high and left their mark on the minds of sports fans the world over.
