The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have come to a close, marking another memorable chapter in the history of global sport. As the curtain closes on this magnificent celebration of sport and the human spirit, it's impossible to ignore the significant impact the African continent had on this edition.

With a solid display of talent, resilience, and determination, African countries won a total of 40 medals. This achievement not only reaffirms Africa's growing relevance in the Olympic landscape but also elevates the continent to a new level of recognition and sporting prestige.

The Paris 2024 Games were the stage for moving stories and extraordinary performances that not only captivated global audiences but also inspired millions of young Africans who aspire to achieve the same level of excellence.

At a time when sport is increasingly becoming a platform for expressing national identity and pride, the achievements of African athletes in Paris are a testament to the continent's progress and sporting evolution.

The victories of athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Soufiane El Bakkali, Tatjana Smith and Kaylia Nemour reaffirm Africa's dominance in some sports, becoming a ray of hope for future generations of Africans.

While the focus is often on individual athletes winning medals, the true legacy of the Paris 2024 Games goes beyond personal victories. It is a legacy of unity and collaboration among African nations that, despite adversity and challenges, continue to forge a successful path in the global sports landscape.

The impact of these achievements will be felt far beyond the borders of Paris, influencing sports policies, infrastructure investments, and the promotion of new talent across the African continent.

Goodbye Paris 2024, Welcome Los Angeles 2028

After beginning with the energy of a thunderstorm, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad concluded at a calmer pace, inside a stadium, as has always been the norm. These were the Games of a return to normality, with spectators back in the stands, and also the Games billed as the supposedly most environmentally friendly ever.

These Games were marked by names like Leon Marchand, Simone Biles, Mijaín Lopez, Snoop Dogg, and Khingzam Lhamo, the Bhutanese athlete who ran the women's marathon in under four hours, achieving a personal best. All of this took place under the skies of Paris, as well as in Marseille and Tahiti, but it all came to an end at the Stade de France.

The closing ceremony, quite different from the opening ceremony that took place along the Seine, with great style and boldness, despite the deluge that was felt, was held inside the Stadium, where the athletics events took place, following all protocol rules and without any major surprises, maintaining a more formal tone.

Los Angeles, the next host city for the Games, brought Snoop Dogg to Paris to participate in the event, where he toured the competitions and even started the new sport that debuted in Paris 2024, Breakdance.

Ironically, and despite the United States being the home of breakdance, the origin of the sport, Breakdance is not expected to be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which calls into question its continuity as an Olympic sport.

Tom Cruise was also present, carrying the Olympic flag on a motorcycle out of the stadium, symbolizing the transition to Los Angeles, California, where Snoop Dogg, with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Billie Eilish, performed live and made the audience at the seaside seem much more lively than the one at the Stadium in Paris.

The new Olympics are now beginning, which, for those who don't know, is the four-year period between two Olympic Games. In four years' time, this entire media spectacle will move to Los Angeles, where, we hope, new and unforgettable sports stories will be written.

African Performance

With the participation of, for the first time, all African countries, the continent once again demonstrated that it is a serious competitor on the world stage, with highlights including medals won in various sports such as athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, fencing, boxing, cycling, taekwondo, modern pentathlon, weightlifting, rugby and football.

the expected

Kenya came out on top with a total of 11 medals, all in athletics, demonstrating its supremacy in this sport, especially in long-distance events.

Faith Kipyegon confirmed her star status by winning two gold medals, one in the 1500 meters and another in the 5000 meters, as well as a silver medal, cementing her status as one of the best runners of her generation.

Kenya's performance was further bolstered by Beatrice Chebet, who also won two gold medals, in the 5000 meters and the 10.000 meters, cementing Kenya's dominance in these events.

South Africa also stood out, winning six medals, including Tatjana Smith, who took home a gold and a silver medal in swimming. The diversity of sports in which South Africans won medals reflects the country's versatility in elite sports, with victories in athletics, cycling, and rugby sevens, in addition to swimming.

Ethiopia, another giant in African athletics, won four medals, with the highlight being the men's marathon, where the country once again raised its flag at the top of the podium.

Morocco also won two medals, one of them Gold, reaffirming its strength in athletics, particularly in the 3000 meter hurdles, with Soufiane El Bakkali shining again, and the other Bronze, in football.

The Surprises

Among the surprises was the performance of countries like Cape Verde and Zambia, which secured Bronze medals, and Botswana with two medals, one Gold and one Silver.

Cape Verde won its first ever Olympic medal, thanks to David de Pina in boxing, a historic feat for the small island nation, and Botswana, with Letsile Tebogo's victory in the 200-meter race, proved that Africa also has sprinters.

Algeria also deserves to be highlighted with three medals, including two Gold, one of them in the women's uneven bars, an unprecedented feat, being the first African medal in artistic gymnastics and the other in women's boxing, which shows the country's growing strength in these sports.

Egypt, with three medals, surprised with its success in sports such as fencing and modern pentathlon, where Ahmed Elgendy, in addition to winning the gold medal, broke the world record.

What About Our Predictions?

They were: Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon, Hugues Fabrice Zango, Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Wayde van Niekerk, Tobi Amusan, Soufiane El Bakkali, Cheick Sallah Cissé, Habitam Alemu and Tatjana Smith.

Now, when comparing the predictions with the final results, we see that we got some right, but there were also many surprises.

What We Got Right

Faith Kipyegon, as predicted, shone brightly, winning two gold medals and one silver, solidifying her position as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time. Her performance was nothing short of Olympic-caliber, fulfilling expectations and helping elevate Kenya to the top of the African medal table.

Tatjana Smith also confirmed her talent, winning a gold and a silver medal in swimming, fulfilling predictions and reaffirming her position as one of the top swimmers on the African continent.

Soufiane El Bakkali, the favorite in the 3000-meter steeplechase, did not disappoint, winning gold and continuing Morocco's tradition in this event. Her victory was a high point for African athletics, once again demonstrating Africa's dominance in endurance racing.

What We Got Wrong

On the other hand, some predictions didn't come true. Cheick Sallah Cissé of Ivory Coast, who had won gold in taekwondo at the 2016 Games, only managed a bronze medal this time. While a significant achievement, it fell short of expectations, demonstrating just how competitive his category has become.

Likewise, Tobi Amusan, who had caused a sensation in the 100-meter hurdles at the previous Games, also failed to repeat his success at Paris 2024, missing out on the medals.

Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso, who was among the favorites in the triple jump, also failed to win a medal, which was a disappointment for many African fans who had hoped to see him on the podium. Marie-Josée Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, who was a strong contender in the 100m and 200m, also failed to reach the podium at Paris 2024.

Wayde van Niekerk, from South Africa, who was the 2016 Olympic champion in the 400m, also failed to repeat his success at Paris 2024. Habitam Alemu, from Ethiopia, who competed in the women's 800m, also disappointed as he failed to win a medal.

But the biggest surprise of all at the 2024 Paris Olympics was Eliud Kipchoge, considered one of the best marathon runners in history, who failed to reach the podium. Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, faced stiff competition and a challenging course, leaving him off the podium—a rarity in his illustrious career.

Despite the surprises and unforeseen events, the overall performance of African athletes at Paris 2024 demonstrated the depth and quality of the continent's sporting talent. Accurate predictions show that the continent continues to produce world-class athletes, while the surprises highlight the unpredictability and excitement that define the Olympic Games.

Surprises and Highlights

Cape Verde made history by winning their first Olympic medal, a remarkable feat for a country with limited resources for sports development. This triumph is a testament to the potential of Cape Verdean athletes and will certainly inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.

Another highlight was Algeria, which won three medals, including two gold. Kaylia Nemour's victory on the women's uneven bars was particularly impressive, marking a significant moment in the history of Algerian and African sport.

Botswana also surprised the world by winning the Gold medal in the men's 200 meters, with Letsile Tebogo winning.

This victory is historic, as it was the first time an African athlete had won a sprint event at the Olympic Games. Tebogo's achievement not only puts Botswana on the world athletics map but also challenges the traditional dominance of the sprinting powers.

Zambia, meanwhile, won a bronze medal in athletics, in the men's 400 meters, with Muzala Samukonga. This achievement is especially significant considering the country isn't traditionally a powerhouse in athletics.

Finally, Uganda once again demonstrated its strength in athletics, winning two medals: one gold and one silver. Joshua Cheptegei won the 10.000-meter men's hurdles, while Peruth Chemutai took silver in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase. These achievements reinforce Uganda's position as one of the emerging nations in African and global athletics.

African Medals in Paris 2024

However, if we include the medal won by athlete Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba of Cameroon, who competed for the Refugee Olympic Team, Africa actually won 40 medals at these Games, a remarkable feat that underscores the importance of the African diaspora in global sport.

Of the 40 medals, 13 were Gold, 12 Silver and 15 Bronze.

Medals by Country

Kenya finished first in the African medal table, winning a total of 11 medals, including 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze. The country maintained its dominance in athletics, emerging as the most successful African nation at Paris 2024.

South Africa was the second most decorated African nation, winning a total of six medals: one gold, three silver, and two bronze. Ethiopia won four medals at Paris 6, including one gold and three silver medals, with its main victories coming in track and field events, reaffirming its leading position in long-distance running.

Algeria won three medals, two gold and one bronze, excelling in sports such as artistic gymnastics and women's boxing, where they achieved historic victories. Tunisia won three medals: one gold, one silver, and one bronze, with a special mention in taekwondo, where it won its gold medal.

Egypt also won 3 medals in Paris 2024, 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze, with the highlight being the modern pentathlon which, in addition to the Gold medal, broke the world record.

Botswana won two medals at Paris 2: one gold and one silver. The track and field victory, with Letsile Tebogo winning the gold medal in the 2024 meters, was historic, marking the first time an African country had won a sprint event.

Morocco won two medals, one gold and one bronze, maintaining its athletics tradition with Soufiane El Bakkali's victory in the 2-meter steeplechase. Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, and Zambia each won one bronze medal.

Cameroonian athlete Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba also won a Bronze medal in the 75kg boxing category, but competed for the Refugee Olympic Team.

Conclusion

Our previous predictions were largely accurate, but the Games, as always, were full of surprises and twists. The victories of Cape Verde and Zambia in sports where they rarely shine, as well as the unexpected medals of countries like Algeria, show that African sport is constantly evolving, with new nations emerging onto the Olympic scene.

The legacy of Paris 2024 for Africa goes beyond the medals won. It is a testament to the continent's growth in global sport and an inspiration for future generations. The achievements of these Games will serve as a foundation for more African athletes to reach new heights and elevate Africa's reputation even higher in the years to come.

What do you think of this medal table for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.

See also:

OJ 2024: Breaking Pioneer Wants Gold

Africa at the Summer Olympics

OJ 2024: 1st African Medal in Gymnastics

OJ 2024: Cape Verde Secures Its 1st Medal

OJ Paris 2024: Black Pearls Beat Spain

OJ 2024: 10 Africans Who Can Win Medals

JO Paris 2024: Frustrating Opening Ceremony