Gold medallist Tatjana Smith of South Africa won the women’s 100m breaststroke final at Olympic Games Paris 2024 on 29 July 2024 in Paris, France.
August 11, 2024
Story by Nischal Schwager-Patel
Kaylia Nemour. Â Picture by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.
Among the many medal moments at these Olympic Games Paris 2024, there have been plenty for Africa.
The continent’s first medal of Paris 2024 came on day one in rugby sevens, when South Africa took men’s bronze with their victory over Australia at the Stade de France.
One of the most emotional victories so far came in the artistic gymnastics competition, where even among star names like USA’s Simone Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade an athlete from Africa stood out, bringing to the continent an historic gold medal.
Kaylia Nemour of Algeria became Olympic champion on the uneven bars, the first Algerian and African gymnast to ever win an Olympic medal.
Another standout African Olympic champion was South Africa’s Tatjana Smith, competing at what would be her final Olympic Games. The 27-year-old swimmer from Pretoria won gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke, then three days later added a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke.
Last but not least, Africa’s Olympic success also includes South Sudan’s men’s basketball team, which made their Olympic debut at Paris 2024. Not only that, but they won their first ever game by defeating Puerto Rico 90-79 on 28 July.
Many medals remain to be won, and there will surely be more for the African continent at the Games.
