African athletes made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Algeria became the first African country to win gold in gymnastics when Algerian-French athlete Kaylia Nemour won the women’s uneven bars; and Botswana celebrated its first-ever Olympic gold, thanks to Letsile Tebogo’s spectacular win in the men’s 200m.

More than 60% of the continent’s 13 gold medals were won in athletics. Throughout the three-week event, athletes from nine African countries secured gold medals across five sports, including the modern pentathlon and taekwondo. 

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet claimed gold in the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m events, while her teammate Faith Kipyegon won gold in the women’s 1,500m and silver in the 5,000m. Emmanuel Wanyonyi took gold in the men’s 800m.

Algeria’s second medal came from Imane Khelif’s victory in women’s boxing, while South Africa’s Tatjana (Schoenmaker) Smith won the women’s 100m breaststroke.