Dj Vnyash
The 2024 Olympic Games are currently taking place in Paris, France, featuring athletes from around the world striving for medals in over 300 sporting events.
The Games commenced on July 26 and will conclude on August 11, marking a century since France last hosted the Olympics in 1924. The event will finish with the women’s marathon, which is expected to be won by an African woman.
Throughout the Olympics, African athletes have consistently made their continent proud with remarkable and record-setting performances. From the inception of the Games to the present, these athletes have showcased their extraordinary abilities and demonstrated Africa’s resilience and determination in the world of sports.
Here are 10 Africans whose Olympic records remain unmatched:
- SAMUEL WANJIRU: KENYA
The late Kenyan marathon runner Samuel Wanjiru established the Olympic marathon record at the 2008 Beijing Games, finishing with a time of 2:06:32 at just 21 years old. Sadly, he passed away at 24 on May 16, 2011, after falling from a balcony at his Nyahururu home, leaving his Olympic title unchallenged at the London Games four years later. - KENENISA BEKELE: ETHIOPIA
Before transitioning to marathons, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele specialized in the 5000m and 10000m races. He set the Olympic record for the 10000m at the 2008 Beijing Games with a time of 27:01.17. The world record of 26:11.00 is currently held by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, set during the Valencia marathon in 2020. - KENENISA BEKELE: ETHIOPIA
After breaking the 10,000m record in Beijing, Bekele aimed to dominate the 5,000m race in London, finishing with an outstanding time of 12:57.82. Now 41, Bekele is competing as part of Ethiopia’s marathon team in Paris. - TIKI GELANA: ETHIOPIA
Kenenisa Bekele wasn’t the only Ethiopian athlete to achieve an Olympic record in London; his compatriot Tiki Gelana set the Women’s marathon record with a time of 2:23:07. The world record of 2:11:53 is held by Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, achieved during the Berlin Marathon in 2023. - DAVID RUDISHA: KENYA
Retired Kenyan middle-distance runner David Rudisha set both the Olympic and World 800m records with his time of 1:40.91 at the London Olympics in 2012. He is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as a two-time World champion in 2011 and 2015. Rudisha is the only athlete to have completed the 800m in under 1:41 and holds the three fastest, six of the eight fastest, and half of the 20 fastest times ever recorded in the event. - WAYDE VAN NIEKERK: SOUTH AFRICA
South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk had an incredible race at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, setting both the Olympic and World Record in the 400m with a time of 43.03. - VIVIAN CHERUIYOT: KENYA
Vivian Cheruiyot aimed to secure gold for Kenya during the 2016 Olympics, and her time of 14:26.17 ultimately set the Olympic record in the 5000m. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay holds the World Record at 14:00.21, achieved during the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon in 2023. - ALMAZ AYANA: ETHIOPIA
Almaz Ayana was among the African athletes who not only won gold in Rio but also set Olympic records. Her Olympic record in the 10000m stands at 29:17.45, while Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet holds the World Record at 28:54.14, set during the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon in 2024. - CONSESLUS KIPRUTO: KENYA
Kenyan athletes have historically dominated the 3000m Steeplechase, contributing to Conseslus Kipruto’s impressive performance in Rio. He set the Olympic record with a time of 8:03.28. However, the World Record of 7:52.11 belongs to Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, set during the Paris Diamond League in 2023. - FAITH KIPYEGON: KENYA
Faith Kipyegon will compete in two events in Paris, defending her Olympic title in the 1500m and aiming for gold in the 5000m for the first time. She set the 1500m Olympic record of 3:53.11 during the Tokyo 2020 Games, which were postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Kipyegon also holds the World Record with a time of 3:49.04, set during the Paris Diamond League in 2024.
