The much-troubled Paris Olympic Games held in France has ended with Kenya topping the African medal count with 11 medals, which includes 4 gold. Algeria came in second place with 2 gold medals, and South Africa was third with 1 gold medal.
Ethiopia completes the top four, also having 1 gold medal but with fewer silver medals.
For the fourth straight time, the United States has secured the top position with 40 gold medals. China came in second, also achieving 40 golds but with fewer silver medals.
France, the host nation, placed fourth overall, yet it was the leading European and EU country with 16 gold medals. At the Tokyo Olympics, African nations secured 37 medals.
This year, the twelve African countries that qualified for the competition performed even better, finishing just one medal ahead: the African continent won a total of 38 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Kenya is known for its success in athletics, especially in middle and long-distance events.
In the men’s and women’s 5000m events, the Kenyans secured silver medals, with Ronald Kwemoi and Faith Kipyegon leading the way.
Kipyegon also claimed gold in the women’s 1500m, while Béatrice Chebet took gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m events, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi emerged as the Olympic champion in the 800m.
Algeria followed in second place with 2 gold medals. Kaylia Nemour’s victory on the uneven bars made her the first African to win a gold medal at these Games, marking a significant achievement.
South Africa takes third with 1 gold medal.
The rainbow nation secured only one Olympic championship title, won by swimmer Tatjana Smith, who triumphed in the 100m breaststroke and earned a silver in the 200m breaststroke.
Ethiopia rounds out the top four, also with 1 gold medal but fewer silver medals.
Additionally, Ethiopian athletes earned three silver medals: Berihu Aregawi in the men’s 10,000m, Tsige Duguma in the women’s 800m, and Tigst Assefa, who finished second in the women’s marathon.
Other African Countries that won a gold medal include Egypt, Tunisia, Botswana, Uganda, and Morocco. African nations excel in athletics, and Botswana has made its mark by winning two medals. Letsile Tebogo claimed gold in the 200m, finishing ahead of Americans Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles, making him the first African to be crowned Olympic champion in this event.
This achievement has filled his country with pride, leading to a special day off in Botswana to celebrate the 21-year-old sprinter’s Olympic title.
Morocco leaves the Paris 2024 Games with just two medals. One is a gold in athletics won by Soufiane El Bakkali in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, and the other is a bronze in football.
The last three countries in this African ranking each secured only one medal, all of which were bronze. Cape Verde’s sole medal came from boxer David de Pina, who finished third in the -51 kg category.
The closing ceremony held at the Stade de France drew over 70,000 attendees and included 8,000 athletes. It showcased performances by international artists such as Phoenix, AIR, Angèle, and Alaine Roche, who played on a suspended piano.
Additionally, Tom Cruise executed a stunning stunt by carrying the Olympic flag in a symbolic transfer to Los Angeles in 2028.
Story by: Isaac Clottey
