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Six African Competitors to Watch at Paris 2024

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Griffith Sarah

Jul 28, 2024

Africa is aiming to break the 50-medal barrier at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with 329 events across 32 sports offering numerous podium opportunities. Here are six athletes to keep an eye on:


Faith Kipyegon from Kenya is a force to be reckoned with in athletics. With two Olympic gold medals and four world records in the past 13 months, Kipyegon is in peak form. She will compete in the 1500m and 5000m events, aiming to secure her third successive Olympic gold in the 1500m—a feat no African athlete has achieved. Key dates for her events are the 5000m heats on August 2, the 5000m final on August 5, the 1500m semis on August 8, and the 1500m final on August 10.


Letsile Tebogo of Botswana made history as the first Botswanan to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m. He announced himself on the senior stage last year with a silver in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m at the World Championships. Tebogo could become the first African man to win an Olympic medal in the 100m or 200m since 1996. His key dates are the 100m heats on August 3, the 100m final on August 4, the 200m heats on August 5, and the 200m final on August 8.


Biniam Girmay from Eritrea is fresh from a historic Tour de France, where he became the first black African to win a stage. Competing in the time trial and road race, Girmay aims to achieve Eritrea's best Olympic result, surpassing a bronze medal in 2004. His events are scheduled for July 27 (time trial) and August 3 (road race).


Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria is an icon in freestyle wrestling, with 14 continental titles and a silver medal from Tokyo 2020. At 35, she returns in the 68kg category, aiming to win Nigeria's fourth Olympic gold. Her matches are on August 5 for the round of 16, quarters, and semis, with the medal finals on August 6.


Hugues Fabrice Zango from Burkina Faso made history by winning his country's first Olympic medal—a bronze in the triple jump at Tokyo 2020. As the current world champion, Zango aims to build on this success in Paris. He will compete on August 7 (qualification) and August 9 (final).


Fatima Zahra El Mamouny from Morocco is set to compete in breaking, a new sport at the Olympics. As Africa’s women’s breaking champion, El Mamouny could make history as the first Olympic medalist in this sport. The competition will take place at the Place de la Concorde, with dancers showing their moves in one-on-one battles.

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