How Africa fared in Paris and hopes for LA Olympics

For a little over two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Paris-based spectators and billions globally were treated to another edition of ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. The Olympic Games have no equal as a vehicle to show off the extraordinary sporting talent of the human race.

Tickets for sports, which normally would scarcely attract more than the families of the participants, were snapped up at eye-wateringly high prices. Sports such as judo, badminton, table tennis, sport climbing, BMX, skateboarding and yes, even ‘breaking’, were played to packed stadiums and arenas.

Track and field, which in many parts of Africa fails to attract more than a handful of the faithful, erected ‘house full’ signs for nine straight days at Stade de France. Some 77,000 spectators filled the imposing Paris stadium each day to watch the world’s best compete for the sought-after Olympic medals, with many more pouring through the gates for the morning sessions of preliminary round action.

Competition between the best in the world makes for compulsive viewing, no matter the shape or form of the sporting code. As long as the contest has been gilded with a sprinkling of Olympic magic, sellout crowds are assured.

The Olympic party is a heady fare. For two weeks, all manner of other global celebrations or catastrophes appear diminished as ‘enemies of the state’ engage in combat in sporting arenas, discovering a common humanity their country’s leaders may not have understood.

The Games are a powerful alchemy but may also have the effect of blunting interest in sport at anything less than the highest level of competition. Once the nectar of the rings has been savoured, nothing else may satisfy.

NATIONAL PRIDE

Flags, colours and anthems abound, all promoting a healthy national pride. The medals table indicated nations’ sporting success, partly indicating the natural talent of countries’ athletes but in reality, more of an indication of available resources or commitment to invest in a particular sporting code or sport in general.

In the end, the medals table is understandably dominated by the USA and China, whose economies allow for significant government and private sector support for their athletes, ensuring those countries will again reap substantial rewards in 2028.

Apart from France, which came close to doubling its medal count from Japan in 2021 to Paris 2024 (33 to 64 total count), which is not atypical for a host country, several other nations flourish in Paris. South Korea increased its medal count from 20 to 32 (from 6 to 13 gold medals), the Netherlands increased their gold medals from 10 to 15 and Uzbekistan increased from 5 to 13 (and their gold medals from 3 to 8).

Geopolitical reasons were behind the demise of those athletes competing under the banner of the Olympic Committee (Russian and Belarussian athletes). But performances from the other top 10 nations, notably the powerhouses USA and China, remained essentially the same.

What about Africa’s participation at the XXXIII Olympiad and the prospects of building on the continent’s substantial natural talent base for Los Angeles 2028?

As was the case for the top-tier nations, there were few significant changes. But one of the bright spots was the rise of previously unheralded African nations in the sporting arena (specifically, Botswana and Cabo Verde).

In Paris, Kenya led the medals’ haul from Africa, with a total of 11 medals (four gold), almost identical to last time, with similar returns from the likes of Ethiopia (four), Tunisia (three) and Morocco (one).

South Africa, Algeria and Botswana did well to double their haul to six, three and two medals respectively, while Egypt (three) and Uganda (two) halved theirs.

All of the above countries secured at least one gold medal, and there were smatterings from other African countries who earned the odd silver and bronze medals.

Of concern was the Nigerian medal shutout, with Africa’s most populated country and past sporting leader failing to make it to the podium in a single event.

NEW, OLD STARS 

Kenya once again proved a powerhouse in the middle- and long-distance track races. Beatrice Kibet was unbeatable, surprising her more favoured compatriot Faith Kipyegon in the 5000m and 10000m races, with Kipyegon finally winning gold in the 1500m.

Kenya produced another 800m star in Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who won a pulsating Olympic final by the narrowest of margins over the Canadian Arop — the first 800m race in history where the top four have clocked under 1 min 42 sec. Algeria’s gold medal hopeful, Djamel Sedjati, took bronze in another African triumph.

Although Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson confirmed her favoured status by winning gold in the women’s 800m, Africa claimed both the silver and bronze, with Ethiopian athlete Tsige Duguma and Kenya’s Mary Moraa taking their places on the podium.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei again proved his ability, adding the Olympic 10000m gold to his ever-growing collection on road, track and cross country, while Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi finished on his heels to grab the silver.

Moroccan’s Soufiane el Bakkali again proved his worth as the world’s leading steeplechaser, taking gold for his country’s sole Olympic medal.

Botswana continued to make strides in international competition, benefitting from the training resources at North-West University in neighbouring South Africa, with a number of the light-blue-vested athletes making it through to track finals.

Their 4x400m relay team missed gold by a fraction, but their cherry on top was the performance of 21-year-old Letsile Tebogo in the 200m, who left the much-vaunted American sprinters trailing in his wake as he raced to an Africa record of 19:46 sec to give the continent its first Olympic sprint medal.

CALL FOR INVESTMENT

In relays, South Africa’s 4x100m relay squad shook off the disappointment of Benjamin Richardson’s withdrawal through injury to come within a whisker of gold, as Akani Simbine moved up from fifth place at the final changeover to finish at Canadian star Andre de Grasse’s heels for a silver medal and African record.

South African Jo-Ane van Dyk achieved Africa’s single medal in the field events with an impressive personal best javelin throw to earn her a silver medal.

As expected, Africa dominated the marathon races, which brought down the curtain on the Olympics. New York Marathon champion Tamirat Tola made the most of his late call-up to the Ethiopian team with an emphatic victory. Somalia-born Belgian Abdi Bashir took silver, with Kenya’s Benson Kipruto close behind in third.

The remarkable Dutch Ethiopian, Sifan Hassan, took gold in a controversial finish in the women’s race ahead of Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa and Kenyan Helen Obiri. No fewer than nine of the top 10 finishers in the women’s race, and six in the men’s, were African-born.

Egypt, Algeria and South Africa achieved success off the track, with Egyptian Ahmed Elgendy winning an impressive gold in modern pentathlon, Algerians Imane Khelif and Kaylia Nemour winning titles in women’s boxing 66kg and artistic gymnastics. Tatjana Smith of South Africa brought home gold and silver in the 100m and 200m breaststroke races in the pool in her Olympic swansong.

In the lesser medals, Egypt tasted success in women’s weightlifting, individual epee fencing and women’s diving, while South Africa earned bronze medals in cross-country mountain biking (Allan Hatherly) and in rugby sevens, where the Blitzbokke upset Australia in the bronze medal match.

Finally, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) made its mark, the tiny island nation that is currently on an over-achievement tearaway (see their performance in the African Cup of Nations) producing a bronze medal through boxer David de Pina in the 51kg flyweight division.

The talent there is aplenty in Africa. What is needed is significant sustained and committed resources from governments and the private sector to nurture that talent to enable the continent to take its rightful place as a global leader in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.