Six African athletes to watch at Paris 2024

Africa is aiming to surpass the milestone of winning 50 medals for the first time at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

With 329 events across 32 sports, the continent will have numerous opportunities to reach the podium in the French capital.

Some athletes who have previously achieved Olympic success will be looking to further their legacies, while others have the potential to make history for their country or sport.

Here, we highlight six competitors to watch throughout the Games.

With two world titles and four world records set in the past 13 months, Kipyegon is in exceptional form as she heads to Paris.

The 30-year-old aims to secure her third consecutive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500m, a feat no African athlete has achieved in the same event three times in a row.

Kipyegon recently lowered her 1500m world record at the Diamond League meeting in Paris and will also compete in the 5,000m at the Games.

Having won both titles at last year’s World Championships, can the Kenyan repeat her success at the Olympics and solidify her status as the queen of the track?

Tebogo, the first man from Botswana to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m, made a significant impact on the senior stage last year by winning two medals at the World Championships.

He secured silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m, becoming the first African man to win a world medal in the shorter distance.

Off the track, the 21-year-old has faced personal challenges, coping with the loss of his mother Seratiwa, with whom he shared a close bond, in May.

Tebogo has the potential to become the first African man to win a 100m or 200m medal at the Olympics since Frankie Fredericks in 1996. However, he will need to be at his very best to not only secure a medal but also contend for Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold.

Fresh from a successful Tour de France, where he made history as the first Black African to win a stage and topped the points classification, Girmay has become a national hero in Eritrea.

At 24, Girmay aims to achieve Eritrea’s best-ever Olympic result by finishing in the top two in cycling’s time trial or road race, surpassing the athletics bronze won in 2004.

The individual time trial, which appears to be Girmay’s best medal chance, takes place along a flat 32.4km route starting at the Esplanade des Invalides and finishing at the Pont Alexandre III.

The 273km road race a week later will be far more challenging, rolling into the countryside west of Paris and concluding with a climb up Montmartre, featuring cobbled streets and tight, winding sections.

Without the support of a team of riders to set up a sprint finish, Girmay faces long odds for victory on the Trocadero. However, he has consistently overcome challenges throughout his career.

The 31-year-old made history for Burkina Faso by winning the country’s first-ever Olympic medal with a bronze in the men’s triple jump in Tokyo three years ago.

Zango went beyond that achievement by becoming the world champion last year with a 17.64m jump in Budapest.

Upon his return to Ouagadougou, he was welcomed by cheering crowds and became the first sportsman to receive the country’s highest honorary distinction, the Officer of the Order of the Stallion, for his accomplishments.

A qualified doctor in electrical engineering, Zango aspires to be a “symbol of hope” for others in his West African homeland. His next goal is to make even more history for Burkina Faso in Paris.

Better known as B-girl El Mamouny, the Moroccan made history by becoming the first-ever qualifier for the Olympic breaking competition.

This sport has been introduced for Paris 2024 as the International Olympic Committee aims to appeal to a younger generation.

The 24-year-old discovered breaking on the streets of Rabat, initially facing a lack of support from her parents regarding her new passion.

Dancers will compete in one-on-one battles, taking turns to showcase their moves and earning marks for technique, variety, execution, musicality, and originality.

The Place de la Concorde, a major public square at the end of Paris’ most famous street, the Champs-Elysees, could witness this African champion make Olympic history.