PREVIEW: AFRICA’S OLYMPIC GAMES PARTICIPATION AHEAD OF PARIS 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics kick off officially on July 26, with Africa also taking part, alongside other countries and continents. Every athlete would like to excel, every country would like to do better than in previous editions, every continent would want to assert itself, when the exciting race for medals would take off.

A total of 54 National Olympic Committees (NOC) are represented at this edition of the quadrennial event.

We take a look at Africa’s history and notable achievements in the competition since its modern inception till date.

Africa’s long road to the modern Olympic Games began in 1904, with only two athletes from South Africa (Len Tau and Jan Mashiani) participating at the 3rd edition organised in SaintLouis, USA.

The London 1908 saw the first NOC emerge from South Africa with seven athletes representing. South Africa’s Reggie Walker bagged Africa’s first medal beating American, James Rector and Canadian Bobby Kerr to win first Africa’s gold medal in 100m, aged 19.

Kenya remains the leading medal winners across the continent with a total of 113 medals including 35 gold, 42 silver and 36 bronze medals. In second place comes South Africa with 89 medals in total; 27 gold, 33 silver and 29 bronze medals. Ethiopia is third with 23 gold medals, 12 silver and 23 bronze to make a total of 58 medals. Nigeria comes 9th on the list with 27 medals in total.