|
Who is Who Among African Athletes ? (01.09.2004)
The 28th Olympic Games ended in Athens, Greece, last Sunday. Some 24 African countries were among the 202 nations which participated in the sports festival. Their exploits varied. Nine countries grabbed at least a medal while the rest, just like many other countries from different parts of the world, returned empty-handed. Ethiopia emerged the top African nation at the just-ended 28th Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, after bagging seven medals (two gold, three silver and two bronze). Morocco was second with three (two gold and a silver), while Kenya came third with seven medals (one gold, four silver and two bronze). South Africa was fourth with six medals (one gold, two silver and three bronze), followed by Egypt with five medals. Zimbabwe secured the sixth spot in the African ranking with three awards, while Cameroon was seventh with one gold medal. Nigeria was eighth with two bronze medals, while Eritrea took the ninth position with a bronze medal. In the overall standings of the two-week event that brought together 202 nations, Ethiopia was ranked 28th, Morocco 36th, Kenya 41st, South Africa 43rd, Egypt 46th , Zimbabwe 49th , Cameroon 54th , Nigeria 69th , and Eritrea 71st . United States emerged the overall champions with 103 medals, followed by China with 63.
Africa however broke new grounds in some disciplines hitherto considered the reserve of Europeans and Americans. In swimming, for example, South African and Zimbabwean athletes honoured the continent with several medals. Kinsty Coventy of Zimbabwe and Mark R. Schoeman of South Africa grabbed three medals each in the sport. Athletics however remained the discipline in which African athletes fetched the highest number of medals. In effect, athletics is, in many ways, the embodiment of the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius", meaning faster, higher, stronger. Instituted as an Olympic sports since 1896, athletics (or track and field) is
|
about running faster, jumping higher and throwing further than your competitors. Africa has some of the best short, middle and long distance runners in the world. It is therefore not surprising the some African countries, such as Ethiopia, sent in athletes only in athletics.
Although the supremacy of the continent was threatened in the 10,000 marathon, African athletes did well in track and field events. Françoise Mbango of Cameroon, for example, grabbed the Triple jump gold medal after leaping 15.30metres. Hicham El Guerrouj of Morroco remained true to himself. He beat World Champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and the 5000m and 10,000m world record holder, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia to bag home two gold medals in the 1500m and 5000m events. International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President, Lamine Diack, lauded him for the outstanding achievements. Kenenisia Bekele comforted himself with a gold medal in 10,000m and a silver medal in 5000m. Meseret of Ethiopia also honoured the continent with the 5,000m gold, while his countryman, Derartu Tul, won the 10,000m bronze. Other athletes such as Paul Tergat, a two-time Olympic men`s 10,000m silver medallist and five-time former World Cross Country champion and Maria Mutola former Olympic champion, World, African and Commonwealth champion, were big disappointments to the continent. Mutola was beaten in the 800m race, an event she has dominated for several years.
The stringent anti-doping measures adopted at the 28th Olympiads (over 3,000 tests carried out) had one victim in Africa. A Kenyan boxer, David Munyasia, was the first athlete to be excluded from the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad by the International Olympic Committee after testing positive for cathine, a prohibited stimulant. From all indication, African athletes need to work harder for the next Olympics in Beijing if they must make their presence felt. The time for preparation is now.
|
|
|
|
|
|