Paris 2024: Chemutai, Faith Cherotich and Khelif make a splash
With two medals and several finalists, 6 August brought a welcome lift for African athletes at the 2024 Olympics.
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Athletics: Africa shines in the 3000m steeplechase
Once again, the women's 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 Olympics was a showcase for African talent. Peruth Chemutai of Uganda took silver, underlining her standing among the world's best distance runners. Kenya's Faith Cherotich also made the podium, taking bronze. Neither could do anything about Bahrain's Winfred Yavi, who dominated the race and won gold.
400m: Samuel Ogazi and Muzala Samukonga reach the final
In the semi-finals of the men's 400m, Nigeria's Samuel Ogazi and Zambia's Muzala Samukonga booked their places in the final with impressive runs. Senegal's Cheikh Tidiane Diouf failed to qualify, even though he set a new national record of 44.94 seconds.
Women's 200m: Ofili and Gbai still too raw
The women's 200m final proved a tall order for Nigeria's Favour Ofili and Ivory Coast's Jessika Gbai. Ofili finished sixth and Gbai eighth in a race won by Britain's Gabby Thomas.
Long jump: four African women in the final
In the women's long jump at these Games, African athletes impressed in qualifying. Nigeria's Ese Brume (6.76m), Ruth Usoro (6.68m), Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor (6.65m) and Burkina Faso's Marthe Koala (6.59m) all secured their places in the final.
Javelin: Julius Yego into the final
Kenya's Julius Yego impressed in qualifying with a throw of 85.97 metres, sending him through to the final of the 2024 Olympics. Yego, who already has an Olympic silver medal to his name, is aiming for the podium again and could well upset the form book in the race for gold.
Boxing: Imane Khelif in historic final
In the boxing, Algeria's Imane Khelif made history by reaching the final of the -66kg category. She beat Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng by unanimous decision, winning all three rounds. Khelif becomes the first Algerian woman to reach an Olympic boxing final in 28 years, an achievement that has prompted great pride in Algeria and across Africa after the controversy that followed her quarter-final win. She now has the chance to win the gold medal, and will face the formidable Chinese boxer Liu Yang.
Greco-Roman wrestling: Blessing Oborududu misses out on bronze
In the Greco-Roman wrestling, Nigeria's Blessing Oborududu failed to win a medal after losing 3-0 to Japan's Nonoka Ozaki in the bronze-medal bout in the -68kg category. Despite the disappointment, Oborududu put together an admirable run throughout the 2024 Olympics and remains one of the leading figures of African wrestling.