Introduction 

Africa made its presence felt at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The continent’s participation was significant in 2020 in Tokyo. Thirty-nine medals, thirteen of which were gold, were won by African athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, doing better than at Tokyo 2020 where 37 charms were collected. 

Africa wins medals at the Olympic Games 

Once again, Africans shone in swimming, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo and, above all, athletics. In all, 39 medals went to Africa, 13 of them gold. Better still, Kenya took home eleven medals. They took four golds, two silvers and five bronzes. This compares with 37 medals in Tokyo in 2020, 11 of them gold. 

Africa down on 2016, 2008 and 2012

The performances were better in Rio in 2016, with 45 medals won, including 11 gold. In Beijing in 2008, the Africans won 40 trophies, including 13 gold. In London in 2012, they won just 34 medals, 11 of them gold. A lesser performance was recorded at Athens 2004, with 35 medals, including 9 gold. The same result was achieved in Sydney 2000, with 35 medals, including 9 gold.

Kenya masters the art of athletics 

In athletics, over 500 and 10,000 metres, the talented Béatrice Chebet took the gold medal. Faith Kipyegon and Emmanue Wanyonyi also took gold in the women’s 1,500 metres and the men’s 800 metres. This is not Faith’s first time. In 2016 in Rio and in 2020 in Tokyo, she achieved the same results. Faith Kipyegon, 30, is also the reigning world champion in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres. Which makes her a real champion. She finished second behind Chebet in the 5,000 metres.

The Kenyans, masters of the art, once again proved that they are the best in the middle and long distance races. Nobody knows their secret. But what is certain is that they always beat the record. 

The women’s category unveiled their skills 

Two gold medals for the women’s category. Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour (17) and boxer Imane Khelif won gold in the uneven bars and boxing in the under 66kg category. Algeria won a third medal in bronze.

On the other side of the coin, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia stood out with gold medals. South African swimmer Tatjana Smith in the 100 metres breaststroke, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola in the marathon and Egypt’s Ahmed ElGendy in the modern pentathlon, not forgetting Tunisia’s Firas Katoussi in Taekwondo in the under 80 kg category, all made the podium.

South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia and Botswana take the lead 

The second country with the most medals, with six, including three silver and two bronze, the South Africans honoured Africa. Next in line was Ethiopia with four medals, three of them silver. Egypt and Tunisia had the same number of medals, three each, including silver and bronze. Botswana, Uganda and Morocco caused a surprise with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, Africa’s first Olympic medal in the 200 metres. Botswana took silver in the 4×400 metres relay. Then Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, a long-distance specialist, won gold in the 10,000 metres. Morocco’s Soufiane El-Bakkali retained his title in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. African bronze medallists make history.

The performance of Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and Zambia

The performances of Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and Zambia each won bronze. Ivorian Cheick Sallah Cissé won gold at the Rio Games. Cape Verde’s Daniel Varela de Pina won the first Olympic medal in his country’s boxing history in the 51kg category. The 27-year-old Zambian boxer Patrick Chienyemba came third. His compatriot Muzala Samukongo won a medal in the 400 metres, 28 years later. The last time Zambia won an Olympic medal, the 21-year-old sprinter had not yet been born. He finished third with a time of 43‘’74, beating his personal and national record. Senegal, with 11 athletes, came home empty-handed.

Conclusion 

Africa’s participation in the Olympic Games was very significant. The continent once again stood out in swimming, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo and, above all, athletics. Participants won gold, silver and bronze medals.