The Olympics is the pinnacle competition for most sports. Athletes across the world look forward to this event every four years to win medals both for themselves and for their countries. Do you know we have some Olympians from Africa who have made us proud? From different parts of the continent, we have listed these super athletes.
- Kirsty Coventry – Zimbabwe
Kirsty Coventry remains the most decorated Olympian from Africa. The former Olympic swimmer and world record holder from Zimbabwe has won a lot of medals—seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals, a gold medal in a 200m back stroke from the Olympics held in 2004 including three other medals, another gold medal in 2008, four silver medals and finally, a bronze medal.
- Tirunesh Dibada – Ethiopia
At a young age, the Ethiopian female athlete, Tirunesh Dibada became the first woman to achieve the Olympic 5,000m/10,000m double, the first to successfully defend a long-distance title at the Olympic games, and also the world’s youngest female champion in the history of athletics. She was also a world record holder for the 5000 meters outdoor track. Her achievements no doubt earned her the nickname ‘Baby Faced Destroyer .’Tirunesh Dibada has earned a lot of medals, too—five world championship track gold medals, three Olympic track gold medals, three bronze medals, as well as an individual World Cross Country(WCC) junior title and four individual WCC adult titles.
3.Kipchoge Keino – Kenya
Kipchoge Keino,a Kenyan athlete, set the world records by emerging as the leading distance runner in the mid-1960s,finishing at exactly 7 minutes 39.6 in the 3000 meters and at 13 minutes 24.2 seconds in the 5000 meters Olympic games.The Olympic athlete inspired many of his fellow Kenyans, both male and female, to participate in distance running,a great Kenyan tradition. Kipchoge Keino has won two gold medals and two silver medals.He is one of the world’s earliest role models who inspire athletes to be the best they can be.
4. Hicham El Guerrouj – Morocco
Hicham ElGuerrouj, a Moroccan athlete, won the World Athlete of the Year awards three times and the world championship in the 1500 meters six times:four consecutive times and twice indoors. He’s considered the greatest long-distance and middle-distance runner in history, holding seven of the fastest ten times ever run in the 1500 meters and in the mile. Currently, Hicham ElGuerrouj has won three amazing medals, including two gold medals, one of which he won at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and a silver medal. He also remains a world record holder for the 1500m outdoor games.
- Chad Le Clos — South Africa
Chad Le Clos won the 200m butterfly final on December 6, 2016, the first day of the 13th FINA Short Course Swimming Championships at the WFCU Centre located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, officially becoming the first man to win three consecutive 200m butterfly Commonwealth titles. The Olympic, Commonwealth, and world games champion remains South Africa’s most decorated Olympian with three gold medals from the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly events at the Commonwealth Games, a gold medal and three silver medals from the 2012 London Games and Olympics held in Rio. He remains the current Commonwealth record holder in the 50 and 100-meter butterfly.
- Mohamed Gammoudi – Tunisia
Mohamed Gammoudi, a Tunisian Olympic athlete, has won a total of four medals—One gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal making him the country’s most decorated athlete. He also won a gold medal in the 5000 meters event held in Mexico City and four other medals from events held in Mexico, Tokyo, and Munich Olympiads. Mohamed Gammoudi contributed hugely to the revolution of African long-distance running, ultimately changing the face of sports for the future.
Comment below athletes from Africa who have been successful at the Olympics.
