As the 2024 Paris Olympics unfolds, African athletes in track and field are poised to make history and chase records. With a legacy of past icons like Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu, Kenya’s David Rudisha, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, and South Africa’s Caster Semenya, this year’s African contingent is set to live up to high expectations. Here are five African track and field stars to watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
1. Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)
Letsile Tebogo, a 21-year-old sprinter from Botswana, is making his Olympic debut and is one of the most anticipated athletes to watch. Tebogo has already made a mark by securing silver and bronze in the 100m and 200m events at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Sponsored by Nike, he boasts personal bests of 9.88 seconds in the 100m and 19.50 seconds in the 200m. With four gold medals from various championships, including the 2024 World Relays and the 2022 African Championships, Tebogo is a strong contender for the podium in Paris.
2. Gina Bass (Gambia)
Gina Bass, a 29-year-old sprinter specializing in the 100m and 200m events, is one of Africa’s fastest women. Bass made her Olympic debut in Rio 2016 and competed again in Tokyo 2020. She has set national records and became the first female athlete from Gambia to qualify for the Olympics. Bass’s personal bests include 10.93 seconds in the 100m (2023) and 22.58 seconds in the 200m (2019). With multiple medals from the African Games and African Championships, Bass is eyeing her first Olympic medal in Paris.
3. Tobi Amusan (Nigeria)
Tobi Amusan, the current Commonwealth, African, and World record holder in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, aims to defend her title in Paris. Amusan, the first Nigerian world champion, has accumulated 16 medals since 2018. She set a personal best of 12.12 seconds in the 100m hurdles at the 2023 African Games. As Nigeria’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, Amusan is a key athlete to watch, carrying high hopes for another Olympic victory.
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4. Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya)
Ferdinand Omanyala, one of the fastest men on the continent and Kenya’s flag bearer at the Olympics, is a major contender in the 100m events. Omanyala holds Kenya’s national record with a personal best of 9.77 seconds, achieved in 2022. He won three gold medals at the 2022 African Championships and Commonwealth Games. Although he narrowly missed the finals at the 2022 World Championships, Omanyala is determined to secure a spot in the Olympic finals in Paris.
5. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)
Faith Kipyegon, a long-distance runner and world record holder in the 1500m events, seeks to maintain her dominance at the Paris Olympics. Kipyegon has already won gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Despite taking a break to have a daughter in 2018, Kipyegon has continued to excel, accumulating over 13 gold medals in her career. At 30 years old, her experience and resilience make her a formidable competitor in the 1500m and 5000m events.
Other Notable Athletes
In addition to these five stars, other African athletes to watch include Ghana’s women’s high jump gold medalist Rose Yeboah and Liberia’s two-time Olympian Emmanuel Matadi. These athletes, alongside their peers, are set to showcase the depth of talent and determination present in African track and field at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With a rich history of Olympic success and a roster of talented athletes, Africa is poised to make a significant impact on the global stage in Paris. Keep an eye on these stars as they strive for glory and aim to add to their nations’ proud legacies.
