Tag: Paris 2024

Letsile Tebogo : “Africans can be Sprinters, too!”

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great People1 Comment
Letsile Tebogo after winning gold in 200m (Source: Onuaonline)

Since Frankie Fredericks of Namibia, who used to always win silver at the Olympics in the 1990s, no African has gotten close to the gold medal in the 100-200 m distances until Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who won the first African gold in the Men’s 200 m discipline ever, at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He also helped Botswana and an African country land silver in 4 x 400 m Men’s relay. By winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tebogo became the first Olympic gold medal winner from Botswana and the first runner from Africa to win the 200m final at the Olympic Games. He set a new African record by shaving off 0.04 seconds off his previous best to clock 19.46 s. “Africans can be sprinters, too,” he said in an interview to NBC Sports.

Letsile Tebogo (Source: SportNewsAfrica)

Tebogo started with a strong love for football (soccer). At the age of six, Tebogo was already a well-rounded footballer and sprinter. His teachers encouraged him to practice both sports, but injuries hampered his football career so he opted to focus solely on track. As he explained in an interview with Runblogrun.com., “I used to run past people and won medals. I also played football. Every time though I went to play football I was being benched.” “[This] made me frustrated…and prompted my decision to go back to athletics as I saw [that] I am able to put food on the table for my family from that,” added the runner whose single mother Seratiwa Tebogo struggled to raise him and his younger sibling. His mother, who was his pillar, passed away this past May and did not get to see her son achieve this great accomplishment, but there is no doubt that she would be very proud of her son. Tebogo dedicated his 200m gold medal win to her, and held up his shoe to the camera after the race, which featured his mother’s birthdate on it. He also painted her initials on his nails. … ” I’ve had such a huge blow that affected me deeply so I’m still trying to get the confidence back into the body. It’s not about injuries, it is all about my mum.” Reflecting on his Paris Olympic victory, Tebogo shared, “It was a truly memorable race. Heading into the final, my coach told me his job was done and the rest was up to me—to finish the race healthy, medal or not. I’m glad I could finish stronger than before, carrying the memory of my mother with every stride. She’s watching from above, and I know she’s proud. I chose not to mark the date of her death on my shoe because it’s too emotional.”

Flag of Botswana

He “didn’t take sprints seriously until 2019” when he raced his first major 100m in 10.68s and clocked 21.12s in the 200m. “For a while, I didn’t pay more attention to athletics until about 2018-2019 when I realized I could go professional with it,” Tebogo said. “The motivation to get into athletics was from watching the big guys like Isaac Makwala, Karabo Sibanda and Nijel Amos,” explained Tebogo. “However, I just really wanted some change in the country, so I had to do something different from the big guys, that’s why I opted to compete in the 100m and 200m.”

Like so many track and field athletes in the sprint distances, he looks up to Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world and 8-times Olympic champion, and dreams of running faster and faster. “It’s time for Africa to take charge over the sprints and every event,” he said in the interview with Runblogrun.com.

Since his Olympic triumphant victory in Paris, he has been taking charge by winning 2 other games so far. Keep an eye out for Tebogo tonight at the Diamond League event in Rome, Italy.

Faith Kipyegon : Making History All the Way

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
Faith Kipyegon (Source: StarConnectMedia)

This week, we will talk about Faith Kipyegon, our Kenyan sister who made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics as the first African athlete to earn a gold medal in the same discipline three times in a row: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and now Paris 2024. This is a remarkable feat never achieved before by an African, and only a select few athletes in the world can claim such in any Olympic discipline. She said, “It’s a big, big achievement. I was really looking forward to defending my title. I had a dream, I completed it. … I managed to make history, to win the gold medal in the 1500. It was my key target. I’m so, so grateful.” And Faith went further by setting a new Olympic record in the event with a time of 3:51.29. She is considered one of the greatest 1,500m athletes the world has ever seen, and has dominated the field for the past 7 years. Moreover, she has a gracious presence which makes her endearing to her fellow competitors. She is nicknamed the “smiling destroyer.”

Faith Kipyegon winning historic 3rd gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics (source: Kelly Ayodi for Olympics Kenya – EastleighVoice.co.ke)

She posted on X,
“Track History Made in Kenya 
Three successive Olympic titles in women’s 1500m : Rio-2016, Tokyo-2020, Paris-2024

It has taken DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK, DEDICATION, CONSISTENCY and FAITH

Praise be to God Thanks for the love“

Flag of Kenya

Born in 1994 on a rural Kenyan farm in Nakuru County in the Rift Valley, Kipyegon, like so many Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners, walked and jogged many miles to and from school. She grew up exposed to a culture of running in her family (her elder sister Beatrice Mutai is a 10km and half marathon specialist, her dad Samuel Kipyegon Koech was a 400m and 800m runner, whole her mother was also in athletics) and community. Her talent was identified early on by her physical education (P.E.) teacher. By the time she was 16, she had already placed 4th in the World Cross Country championships. She trains in Kaptagat and shares the same coach, Patrick Sang, as another great Eliud Kipchoge. She is also a mother of a beautiful daughter, and on the year she came back from maternity in 2019, she won at the Diamond League in Oregon. She owes her success to, as she says, hard work, discipline, dedication, consistency and faith, but also to the great Kenya’s athletics training system which has given us phenomenal distance runners over the years.

Now onto further victories for Faith, for Kenya, and for Africa as whole. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are around the corner. Let’s keep working hard, consistently, in a discipline manner, and with faith.

Tamirat Tola or Making the Best of a Second Chance

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Tamirat Tola wins Men’s Marathon at Paris 2024 Olympics (Source: afrik.com)

There were many awesome stories at Paris 2024 Olympics. Many athletes surpassed themselves, broke new records, and set new firsts. The Olympics are over, but over the next few weeks, we will highlight those whose story may inspire us to get even better at what we do in our day-to-day lives. One athlete whose story particularly touched us was Ethiopian Tamirat Tola. Why?

Abebe Bikila on the podium in 1960 Olympics in Rome
Abebe Bikila on the podium during the 1960 Olympics in Rome, after winning the gold medal in the marathon, and surrounded by Rhadi Ben Abdesselam of Morocco (silver) and Barry Magee of New Zealand (Bronze)

Tamirat Tola is not a stranger to the Olympics: he was a bronze medalist in the Men’s 10,000 m at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He has had many victories since then, more recently winning the 2023 New York City Marathon, and coming 3rd at the 2023 London Marathon. However, his performances this year were not enough for him to make it into the Ethiopian team selected for this year’s Olympics/Marathon. Ethiopia is a powerhouse for long distance runners, producing some of the best runners in the world: there is no secret that since Abebe Bikila: Emperor of the Distance and Running Barefoot, the world of long distance has been partially dominated by Ethiopia (and Kenya). So in a powerhouse team, Tola’s performance this year was not enough to make the cut. This makes it so that some of the best athletes may not make the cut for the team even though they are very good, and would be outstanding for other countries.

Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line at the Paris 2024 Olympics winning the gold medal and setting a new Olympic Record (Source: EthiopiansToday.com)

Two weeks prior to the Men’s Marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tola was added to the team as a substitute for teammate Sisay Lemma, winner of this year’s Boston Marathon, who had been injured. Teams are selected weeks ahead of the Olympics, and Tola was just selected 2 weeks prior. He made the best of this second chance and won the gold medal at the Olympics in a very hilly route billed extremely difficult with inclines as steep as 13%. Tola also set up an Olympic Record in 2 hours 6 minutes 26 seconds. His win also marks Ethiopia’s first gold medal in the event since Sydney 2000. He said, “I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries then I had a chance, … I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfil my dream. I am very proud, very happy.” Indeed, it was an opportunity given to him by his teammate, and Tola acknowledged his teammate in his victory. “Sisay told me that it was better for him to drop out and for me to compete. He said, ‘You can do better than me in my condition.’ … It is thanks to him. This victory also belongs to him for giving me this opportunity. … I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal, … I prepared well. I trained hard so I could win. In my life, this is my great achievement.”

Tola’s victory inspired us to remember to always be ready, one never knows when a second chance will come, be ready, stay ready, and make the best of it.

African Victories at the Paris 2024 Olympics

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The Paris 2024 Olympics have just ended, and African athletes have shined in usual disciplines i.e. those where we are used to seeing them, but also on those never conquered before. They made us proud and served us joy, endurance, and passion. At these games, we also saw more Africans representing other countries European and even Asian and winning medals: Bahrain, Qatar, Japan, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Canada, US, … and winning for them as well. In essence, Africa shined a lot! For this article, our focus will be on African athletes representing the continent.

Faith Kipyegon (Source: StarConnectMedia)

We had faith in our Kenyan sister Faith Kipyegon… and she delivered: Faith won her 3rd successive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500 m, making her the first African to ever win gold in the same event 3 times in a row. Last Monday, she had won silver in a very contested Women’s 5000 m at the Olympics, where she was first disqualified for track obstruction, and then reinstated as the silver medal winner after appeal by the Kenyan federation. Her compatriot Beatrice Chebet won the first Kenyan gold medal of these Olympics in the Women’s 5000 m, and proved unbeatable in the Women’s 10,000 m delivering gold there as well. Mary Moraa, Faith Cherotich, and Hellen Obiri all took home the bronze medal in the Women’s 800 m, Women’s 3000m steeplechase, and in the Women’s Marathon respectively. Emmanuel Wanyonyi won gold in the Men’s 800 m. Ronald Kwemoi won silver in the Men’s 5000 m, while Benson Kipruto and Abraham Kibiwot took home bronze in the Men’s Marathon and Men’s 3000m steeplechase respectively. In total, Kenya earned 11 olympic medals: 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronzes.

Letsile Tebogo after winning gold in 200m (Source: Onuaonline)

We had our eyes on Letsile Tebogo who missed out on the 100m  podium, but earned the top most place in the Men’s 200 m thus giving Botswana and Africa as a whole its first ever gold medal in a 200 m. Since our brother Frankie Fredericks of Namibia who used to delight us, and always ended with silver, this is a very first. Tebogo also led the Botswana’s team to a silver medal in the Men’s 4x400m relay, again a first for any African country ever, letting the world know that Africans can no longer be discarded in these disciplines.

Joshua Cheptegei (Source: Dailyexpress.co.ug)

Before the Olympics, our Ugandan brother Joshua Cheptegei told us that this will be his last Olympics, and promised us magic. Cheptegei did not disappoint, he ran his heart out serving us a performance worthy of a novel, coming from behind to win gold in the Men’s 10,000 m, and landing Uganda its first gold at the games. Compatriot Peruth Chemutai won silver in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase.

South African team after 4 x 100m Relay win (Source: dispatchlive.co.za)

In swimming, Tatjana Smith of South Africa made her country proud by winning gold and silver medals in the Women’s 200m and 100m breaststroke events; recall that Smith, born Schoenmaker, was the Tokyo 2020 Gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke category. South Africa also landed 2 bronze medals in rugby and mountain bike with Alan Hatherly. Although flag bearer Akani Simbine ended 4th in a highly contested Men’s 100 m track and field, Simbine and the rest of his team delivered us silver in the Men’s 4 x 100 m relay, again a first for South Africa, and for Africa as a whole in winning a medal in the discipline. Jo-Ane van Dyk delivered silver in the Women’s javelin throw.

Algeria took home 2 gold and 1 bronze medals, one gold from the controversial athlete Imane Khelif who is said to be a man competing in female boxing, and another gold from Kaylia Nemour in the Women’s Uneven bars in artistic gymnastics. Nemour‘s victory is a first for Africans in gymnastics. Djamel Sedjati took home the bronze medal in the Men’s 800 m.

Tamirat Tola wins Men’s Marathon at Paris 2024 Olympics (Source: afrik.com)

Tamirat Tola, who was just added to the Ethiopian Olympics’s team 2 weeks ago after his compatriot Sisay Lemma was injured, took home the gold medal in the Men’s Marathon, making Ethiopia and our legend Haile Gebrselassie who opened the marathon, proud. Berihu Aregawi won a silver medal for his participation in the Men’s 10,000 m. Tsige Duguma and Tigst Assefa both won silver in the Women’s 800 m, and the Women’s Marathon respectively.

Ahmed Elgendy wins gold in the first ever modern pentathlon (Source: TheTelegraph.com)

Egypt won 3 medals: 1 gold in the Men’s Modern Pentathlon with Ahmed Elgendy, 1 silver in Women’s 81kg weightlifting with Sara Ahmed, and 1 bronze in fencing with the Men’s individual Epee with Mohamed Elsayed. Elgendy‘s gold is the first gold medal for Egypt at any olympics, and a first in the discipline for an African athlete; he also becomes the first person to win in this brand new discipline at the Olympics.

Morocco  delighted us when Soufiane El Bakkali won the gold medal in the Men’s 3000m steeplechase; and the Moroccan football (soccer) team, currently Africa’s highest ranked soccer team at number 4 (the senior men’s team) in the world’s ranking of football team, took home the bronze medal by defeating Egypt.

Tunisia reveled us with gold in Taekwondo in the Men’s 80 kg with Firas Katoussi, and bronze in the Men’s 58 kg with Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi. Fares Ferjani won silver in Fencing the Men’s Individual Sabre.

Our dear brother Cheikh Sallah Cisse of Ivory Coast did not disappoint by taking the bronze medal in Taekwondo for Ivory Coast, in the Men’s 80kg; Cisse had given Côte d’Ivoire its very first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Cabo Verde got its very first medal at the Olympic games through David de Pina who won bronze in the Men’s 51 kg Boxing.

Muzala Samukonga of Zambia wins Bronze in the Men’s 400m (Source: pulsesports.ng)

Zambian Muzala Samukonga won the bronze medal in the Men’s 400m. This may be Zambia’s first medal at the Olympics; if not, it is Zambia’s first medal in the discipline ever. And the Zambian team also came out 4th in the Men’s 4 x 100 m relay one step short of a place on the podium; this tells you the future that this Zambian team holds if it perseveres.

We cannot wait to see Africa at the Los Angeles Games in 2028!

Africans at the Paris 2024 Olympics so far …

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Hugues Fabrice Zango getting his triple jump (Source: bbc.co.uk)

The controversial opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has not dimmed the spirits of African athletes, they know that they are there to work and make their continent proud.

Before the beginning of the games, there were a few African athletes to watch out for:

Our golden athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango, the first gold medal of Burkina Faso, and representing us all on the triple jump. As a fun fact, Zango also recently defended his PhD thesis in Electrical Engineering, and looks to make the colors of his country shine again this year.

Faith Kipyegon (Source: StarConnectMedia)

Our loved one, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon… we all have faith in her to make us proud again. With 2 world titles won and 4 world records, Faith is hoping to win her 3rd successive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500m; if she manages to accomplish this, she will be the first African to even win gold in the same event 3 times in a row. On Monday, she already won silver in a very contested Women’s 5000 m at the Olympics, where she was first disqualified for track obstruction, and then reinstated as the silver medal winner after appeal by the Kenyan federation. Her compatriot Beatrice Chebet won the first Kenyan gold medal of these olympics.

The revelation is this year’s Eritrean athlete Biniam Girmay who has won stage events at the Tour de France, becoming the first African to ever do so, and also topping the points classification. We will be on the look out for him in cycling.

Letsile Tebogo (Source: SportNewsAfrica)

We had our eyes on Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who took silver in the 100m and bronze over 200m  at the world championships; however, the 100m did not go well for Tebogo, but we are all throwing our support behind him for the 200m. Our young brother lost his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, his pillar and rock back in May, and we are sending him lots of love and support.

Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria is a wrestling baobab in Nigeria and Africa, with 14 continental titles, 4 commonwealth medals, and a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, today, Oborududu lost on advancing to gold or silver, but will be competing for the Bronze medal tomorrow.

Flag of Uganda

Before the Olympics, our Ugandan brother Joshua Cheptegei told us that this will be his last Olympics, and promised us magic. Cheptegei did not disappoint, he ran his heart out serving us a performance worthy of a novel, he came from behind to win gold in the men’s 10,000m, and land Uganda its first gold at the games so far. Compatriot Peruth Chemutai won silver in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase, while Kenyan Faith Cherotich won the Bronze medal.

In swimming, Tatjana Smith of South Africa made her country proud by winning gold and silver medals in 200m and 100m breaststroke events. South Africa also landed 2 bronze medals in rugby and mountain bike with Alan Hatherly. Flag bearer Akani Simbine ended 4th in a highly contested 100m track and field men’s final.

I will write an article at the end of the Paris 2024 Olympics games to tally all our victories.

African Wins at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia winning the Gold during the 400m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 (Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com)

This week more history has been made for Africa at the Olympics. Records have been broken and Africans have responded present with strength.

Tunisia, with Ahmed Hafnaoui offered the African continent its first medal of the games, by winning gold in the 400m freestyle swimming. Then, Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi won silver in the Men’s 58kg Taekwondo.

Hugues Fabrice Zango getting his triple jump (Source: bbc.co.uk)

Burkina Faso got its first ever medal since the creation of the Olympic games. Hugues Fabrice Zango won the bronze medal in the Men’s triple jump. It was really good to watch him, and I am proud for this son of the land of Thomas Sankara. Moreover, he won his medal, Burkina Faso’s medal on the 61st anniversary of the country’s independence (as you know most Francophone countries are not really independent from France because of the FCFA, but this is a story for another day).

Namibia Christine Mboma came back from behind to win silver in the Women’s 200m in front of some of the world’s best. Now remember that Christine Mboma and her compatriot Beatrice Masilingi were barred from running their favorite distance, 400m, just a month ago, and had to all of sudden readjust to run 200m. They were declared ineligible for the longer race because of a genetic condition that raises their testosterone levels. South African Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion in the 800m (2016 and 2012), is the most famous DSD (difference in sexual development) athlete who has been stopped from running in Tokyo. All three 800m medallists at the 2016 Rio Olympics – Semenya, Burundi’s silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba and Kenyan bronze winner Margaret Wambui – were DSD athletes… I am not sure I understand the whole issue, because for me, I wonder how one can be born female and then one day some organization tells them that they are not female. I find it hard to fathom. So let’s see what will happen. Mboma is the first Namibian female to win an olympic medal… she is following in the tracks of the great Namibian athlete Frankie Fredericks (Frankie Fredericks: Sprinting to the Finish for Namibia).

Christine Mboma of Namibia (Source: indianExpress)

Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria won Silver in the Women’s freestyle 68kg. Ese Brume did not disappoint and won Nigeria’s first medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games, taking bronze in the women’s long jump.

Ethiopia Selemon Barega gave Ethiopia its first Men’s 10,000m gold since Kenenisa Bekele in 2008. Lamecha Girma won silver in the Men’s 3000m steeplechase. Gudaf Tsegay won bronze in the Women’s 5000m race, while Letesenbet Gidey won the bronze medal in Women’s 10000m.

Uganda Joshua Cheptegei, the World champion and world record holder, ran a controlled race to take the men’s 5000m gold; last week, he had also won silver in the Men’s 10,000m. Jacob Kiplimo won the bronze medal in the Men’s 10,000m race. Peruth Chemutai became the first Ugandan woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal on Wednesday – triumphing in the Women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Eliud Kipchoge winning gold at the Men’s marathon (Source: OregonLive.com)

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who had been training with legends like marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge thwarted World champion’s Sifan Hassan’s plans of winning a distance treble in Tokyo by retaining the women’s 1500m title by pulling ahead after the bell and winning gold. Her compatriot Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s marathon, defeating world record holder Brigid Kosgei  in the closing stages and winning in 2h27min20s, and Kosgei had to settle for silver. Hellen Obiri took home silver in Women’s 5,000m, while Hyvin Kiyeng won bronze in Women’s 3000m steeplechase. The men’s 800m gold went to Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir of Kenya, and his teammate Ferguson Rotich took silver. Timothy Cheruiyot took silver in the Men’s 1500m, while Compatriot Benjamin Kiven took bronze in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Eliud Kipchoge successfully defended his olympic title at the marathon; he is only the 3rd person in the history of the games to win successive marathons.

South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker won gold, and broke the Women’s 200m world record for breaststroke on Friday. This earned her a call from the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to congratulate her on her victory. Schoenmaker had previously won silver in the Women’s 100m breastrokes, while Bianca Buitendag took silver in surfing, 

Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali triumphed in the Olympic Men’s 3,000m steeplechase – ending Kenya’s 41-year unbeaten run on the distance.

Egypt’s Giana Farouk (Lotfy) won bronze in the Women’s kumite karate. Seif Eissa, Hedaya Malak, and Mohammed Elsayed Elsayed all won bronze medals in the Men’s 80kg taekwondo, Women’s 67kg taekwondo and Men’s 67kg Greco-Roman wrestling respectively.

Faith Kipyegon winning the 1500m (Source: si.com)

Ruth Gbagbi of Cote d’Ivoire won bronze in the Women’s 67kg Taekwondo. She had won Bronze also in Rio 2016. Ghana also took home bronze in the Men’s Feather (52-57kg) boxing with Samuel Takyi.

Lastly, Team Botswana (Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe, Zibane Ngozi, Bayapo Ndori) surprised everyone by giving a beautiful performance and winning the bronze amidst some of the world’s bests in the Men’s 4x400m relay.

Overall, it was a good game… As we turn the page of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which took place in 2021, we do hope that the Paris 2024 Olympics will be better for Africa, and that the world will be in a better place.