Africa aims to achieve a historic milestone by winning 50 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With 329 events across 32 sports, the continent has numerous chances to secure podium finishes in the French capital. Some athletes are looking to build on their previous Olympic successes, while others have the potential to create new records for their nations or sports. Here, BBC Sport Africa highlights six athletes to watch during the Games.
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, athletics)
Faith Kipyegon from Kenya is on fire as she heads to Paris, boasting two world titles and four world records achieved in just over a year. At 30 years old, she is determined to clinch her third consecutive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500m, a feat no African athlete has accomplished in this event.
Earlier this month, Kipyegon shattered her own 1500m world record at a Diamond League event in the French capital, and she will also compete in the 5,000m at the Olympics. After her double victory at last year’s World Championships, can this remarkable Kenyan athlete replicate her success on the Olympic stage and solidify her status as the queen of the track? Mark your calendars for her events: Friday, August 2 (5,000m heats), Monday, August 5 (5,000m final), Thursday, August 8 (1500m semis), and Saturday, August 10 (1500m final).
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana, athletics)
Tebogo made history as the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second mark in the 100m sprint, making a significant impact on the senior athletics scene last year by securing two medals at the World Championships. He earned a silver in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m, marking him as the first African male athlete to achieve a world medal in the shorter sprint. Off the track, the 21-year-old has faced personal challenges, including the loss of his beloved mother, Seratiwa, in May. As he heads into the upcoming Games, Tebogo has the chance to become the first African man to win a medal in the 100m or 200m since Frankie Fredericks in 1996.
However, to claim his country’s first Olympic gold, he will need to perform at his absolute best against a highly competitive field. Key dates for his events include the 100m heats on Saturday, August 3, the semifinals and final on Sunday, August 4, followed by the 200m heats on Monday, August 5, the semifinals on Wednesday, August 7, and the final on Thursday, August 8.
Biniam Girmay (Eritrea, cycling time trial & road race)
Following a remarkable performance at the Tour de France, where he made history as the first black African to win a stage and clinched the points classification, Girmay has become a national icon in Eritrea.
If the 24-year-old secures a top-two finish in either the cycling time trial or road race, he will achieve the best Olympic result for his country, surpassing the athletics bronze medal won in 2004.
The individual time trial, set on a flat 32.4km course starting at the Esplanade des Invalides and concluding at the Pont Alexandre III, presents Girmay with his best opportunity for a medal.
A week later, the 273km road race will pose a greater challenge, taking riders into the picturesque countryside west of Paris before culminating in a steep ascent up Montmartre, featuring cobbled streets and narrow turns.
Without a team to assist in a sprint finish, Girmay faces tough odds at the Trocadero. However, he has consistently proven his ability to overcome obstacles throughout his career.
Scheduled for action: Saturday, July 27 (time trial), Saturday, August 3 (road race).
Blessing Oborududu (Nigeria, freestyle wrestling)
A true wrestling legend in Nigeria and across Africa, Oborududu boasts an impressive collection of 14 continental titles and four Commonwealth medals. She shone as her nation’s top athlete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, securing a silver medal in the 68kg division. Now, at 35 years old, she is set to compete in the same weight class, potentially marking her final appearance at the Olympics.
Currently ranked sixth due to her performance points accumulated since last year’s World Championships, she faces tough competition, including France’s Koumba Larroque, who will have the advantage of a supportive home crowd. Having made her senior debut in 2009, Oborududu aims to leave a lasting legacy by clinching a gold medal, which would be just the fourth Olympic gold for her West African country. Mark your calendars for her matches on Monday, August 5 (68kg round of 16, quarters, and semis) and Tuesday, August 6 (68kg medal finals).
Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso, athletics)
At 31 years old, he made history for Burkina Faso by winning the nation’s first Olympic medal, securing a bronze in the men’s triple jump during the Tokyo Games three years ago. Last year, Zango raised the bar even higher by clinching the world championship title in Budapest with an impressive jump of 17.64m. Upon his return to Ouagadougou, he was met with enthusiastic crowds and honored as the first athlete to receive the prestigious title of Officer of the Order of the Stallion for his remarkable accomplishments.
In addition to his athletic prowess, Zango is also a qualified electrical engineer and aspires to be a “symbol of hope” for his fellow citizens in West Africa. His sights are now set on making more history for Burkina Faso at the upcoming Paris Games. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 7 (triple jump qualification) and Friday, August 9 (triple jump final)
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