Africa’s medal haul at the Paris Olympics was 39, spread across 12 countries, with a concerning curtailing of the continent’s dominance of the middle distance events in athletics and a lack of an impact in boxing.



Kenya, as is custom, led the African medal table with 11 medals, including four golds.



It is one more than in Tokyo but five down on the record 16-medal haul for the Kenyans at the 2008 Beijing Games.



Kenya did again provide some standout athletics performances, led by Faith Kipyegon, who secured her third Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters. Beatrice Chebet also shone, winning gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, while David Wanyonyi claimed victory in the men&#8217;s 800 meters.



But in the 3,000m steeplechase, where Kenya had won nine successive golds, it was Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who retained his title from Tokyo.



Arguably, Africa’s biggest moment came when Letsile Tebogo won the 200m, beating Noah Lyles in a poignant victory just months after the death of the mother of the Botswana sprinter.



Tebogo added a silver as he anchored his country’s 4x400m relay team to second place behind the United States. They were Botswana’s first-ever medals.



Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegi upgraded his 10,000m silver from Tokyo to gold this time round but then did not defend his 5,000m crown.



There was not a single men’s medal in the field events, although unheralded Jo-Ane van Dyk from South Africa took javelin silver on the last day of the program.



Ethiopia’s single gold came from Tamirat Tola in the women’s marathon, as they are also down on previous Games’ performances while Ghana and Nigeria failed to win a single medal.



“As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrence of the Paris disaster and if this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting Federations, it will be done,” warned Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh.



The island nation of Cape Verde celebrated its first-ever medal, with David de Pina bringing home bronze in the men’s 51kg boxing division.



&#8220;They say I&#8217;m the hero because I give them one thing they never had before,&#8221; he told reporters.



&#8220;I put the name of the country around the world. They might think we don&#8217;t have the strength to win a medal, but we showed them that it’s possible.”

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Africa At The Paris Olympics: Kenya Leads Medals Tally While Nigeria And Ghana Return Home Empty-Handed

Sprinter Letsile Tebogo made history for Botswana and Africa when he was crowned Olympic 200- meter champion in Paris in a moving story that is about much more than just gold medals.



Tebogo raced to victory 19.46, ahead of a pair of Americans in Kenny Bednarek (19.62) and Noah Lyles (19.70), securing a first-ever gold medal for Botswana at the Olympics, and a first African win in the men’s 200m.



Lyles, the favorite who had earlier won the 100m crown, announced directly after the race that he had Covid-19 which had affected his performance, stealing the media limelight to a degree and opening a debate over whether he should have raced now for two days that he was ill, not only for his safety but of those around him.



Not that the quiet Tebogo would have minded the spotlight being off him as he reflects in a personal manner on his triumph, which comes just months after the death of his mother Seratiwa following a battle with cancer.



She had been a driving force behind his career and it was clear as the 21-year-old pointed to the heavens after finishing the crossing line that he was dedicating this victory to her memory.



&#8220;It&#8217;s basically me carrying her through every stride that I take inside the field,&#8221; Tebogo said. &#8220;To take her (with me), it gives me a lot of motivation. She&#8217;s watching up there, and she&#8217;s really, really happy.&#8221;



Lyles had been anointed as the heir apparent to the great Usain Bolt but had his 26-race winning streak in the 200m ended by Tebogo in the semifinals. Asked whether he was now the face of men’s athletics, the Botswanan said he would leave that to Lyles.



“I think, for me, I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or a loud person like Noah,” he said. “I believe Noah is the face of athletics.”

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Africa At The Paris Olympics: Kenya Leads Medals Tally While Nigeria And Ghana Return Home Empty-Handed

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