The exploits of several African athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics created historic moments for the continent and Part 1 of this series featured some of these highlights. Part 2 captures our Top 5 Historic African Track and Field moments and showcases some of the continent’s finest athletes. Here’s the countdown from Nos.5-1.
5. El Bakkali becomes first African in history to defend 3000m steeplechase title
Soufiane El Bakkali made history as the first African man to defend an Olympic title in the 3000m steeplechase and only the second man to do so after Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo in 1936 – more than 80 years ago! Following his GOLD medal win in Tokyo in 2021, the Moroccan dominated every major global competition while aiming to etch his name in the history books at the Paris Olympics. In the thrilling final, El Bakkali maintained his composure even as he trailed several competitors for the first 2500 meters. A pivotal moment came when Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, in contention for the lead, fell after tripping over a hurdle, shifting the race dynamics. Seizing the opportunity, El Bakkali stormed to GOLD, completing his remarkable global sweep from 2021 to 2024.
4. Samukonga’s comeback Bronze in the 400m
Muzala Samukonga overcame a hamstring injury to place Zambia on the Olympic medal table after a 28-year hiatus. In 2023, the Zambian was among the favourites for the World title but got plagued by injury two months before the World Championships in Budapest after having a breakout season in 2022. Having been beaten to the African Games 400m title by Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie in March, many doubted that Samukonga could get back to his previous form. However, the Zambian was strategically pacing himself for the Olympics. He broke his Personal Best (PB) and National Record (NR) in the semifinals, running an impressive time of 43.81s. In the final, the Commonwealth Games reigning champion displayed immense grit and determination, going past Jereem Richards in the last few meters to snatch the Bronze in a new PB and NR of 43.74s, a worthy compensation for missing out on last year’s World Championships.
3. Chebet’s 5000m/1000m double glory
Before the Paris Games, Beatrice Chebet had never won a global title in the 5000m or 10,000m. She hadn’t raced in the 10,000m until the 2024 season where she announced herself to the world by breaking the World Record (WR) at the Prefontaine Classic, becoming the first woman in history to break the 29-minute barrier (28:54.14). At the Olympics, Chebet finally claimed her first global 5000m title after winning Silver and Bronze medals respectively in the last two editions of the World Championships, stunning compatriot and former WR holder and reigning World Champion, Faith Kipyegon who settled for Silver. Exactly four days later, the Kenyan returned to the tracks for the 10,000m where she emerged the firm favourite to defeat Sifan Hassan and Gudaf Tsegay who were the reigning Olympic and World Champions respectively. Chebet charged to GOLD to become the first Kenyan woman to win the event and the third woman in Olympic history to win both the 5000m and 10,000m at a single Games.
2. Kipyegon’s three-peat in the women’s 1500m
Faith Kipyegon, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, became the first athlete (male or female) to win the 1500m for three consecutive times at the Olympic Games in Paris. The last time Kipyegon didn’t win GOLD in the 1500m was at the 2019 World Championships where she was returning from an 18-month maternity break. After breaking the World Record (WR) in 2023 and 2024 respectively, there was no doubt that Kipyegon was the overwhelming favourite for the Olympic title. Although she started things off at the Olympics with the 5000m where she was the reigning World Champion, she had to settle for Silver after a late charge from her compatriot, Beatrice Chebet. Kipyegon overcame the disappointment to win her third consecutive Olympic GOLD medal in the 1500m with a sensational time of 3:51.29, bettering her previous Olympic Record (OR) in the process.
1. Tebogo dazzles with GOLD & African Record in the men’s 200m
Letsile Tebogo achieved a historic milestone by becoming Botswana’s first ever Olympic GOLD medallist after participating in 11 editions of the Games. The Motswana initially placed 6th in the men’s 100m, unable to replicate his podium finish from the 2023 World Championships where he claimed Silver despite setting a National Record (NR) and Personal Best (PB) of 9.86s. Tebogo put that behind him and went on to win the men’s 200m, upsetting favourite USA’s Noah Lyles who hadn’t lost a 200m final since the Tokyo Olympics, ending Africa’s wait for a short sprint Olympic title. He won the title with an African Record of 19.46s, bettering his 19.50s set last year at the London Diamond League and placing him 5th on the all-time list. The closest any African has come to winning a GOLD medal in the short sprints at the Olympics was Frankie Fredericks of Namibia who won four Silver medals in the 100/200m at the Barcelona ’92 and Atlanta ’96 Olympics respectively.
