Kenya, Ethiopia, and the 10 Most Successful African Nations in Olympic History Ahead of Paris 2024
- The commencement of the 33rd edition of the Olympic games is upon us with the city of Paris set to host the rest of the world
- A flurry of African nations have experienced varying levels of success at the world's foremost multi-sport events
- Legit.ng shines the spotlight on a list of the most successful African nations in the storied history of the Summer Olympic games
The stage is set, the flame is lit, and Paris is ready to welcome the world for the 2024 Olympic Games, marking exactly 100 years since the city first hosted the event.
The Summer Olympics have a rich history of delivering thrilling moments and remarkable performances, with athletes from around the globe making their mark across various sports.
African nations have been a significant part of this history, with many achieving remarkable success. Notably, the Nigerian men's football team made headlines at the Atlanta Olympics by becoming the first African team to win a gold medal in football.
Source: Getty Images
Nigeria's triumph in the United States is just one highlight of Africa's contributions to the Olympics. The continent has consistently responded to the call of the Games with impressive performances.
PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!
According to data from Olympedia, African countries have amassed a total of 286 medals since 1956. Kenya leads with 86 medals, primarily in athletics, followed by Ethiopia with 45, also in athletics, and South Africa with 32 medals, predominantly in swimming.
As the Paris Games approach, Legit.ng is spotlighting the top 10 most successful African countries in Olympic history.
Most successful African countries at the Olympics
Below is a list of 10 of the most successful African countries at the Summer Olympic Games:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Kenya (KEN) | 35 | 42 | 36 | 113 |
| 2 | South Africa (RSA | 27 | 33 | 29 | 89 |
| 3 | Ethiopia (ETH) | 23 | 12 | 23 | 58 |
| 4 | Egypt (EGY) | 8 | 11 | 19 | 38 |
| 5 | Morocco (MAR) | 7 | 5 | 12 | 24 |
| 6 | Algeria (ALG) | 5 | 4 | 8 | 17 |
| 7 | Tunisia (TUN) | 5 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
| 8 | Uganda (UGA) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 9 | Nigeria (NGR) | 3 | 11 | 13 | 27 |
| 10 | Zimbabwe (ZIM) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
*Data courtesy of Olympedia.com
Africa's participation at the Olympics
Africa’s involvement in the Olympic Games began in 1904, when South African athletes Len Tau and Jan Mashiani competed as marathon runners at the Summer Olympics in St. Louis, USA.
While African nations earned several medals during the colonial era (1904-1956), it wasn’t until the Melbourne Games in 1956 that a broader representation of African countries, including those under protectorates like Kenya, made their Olympic debut. Since then, African Olympic stars have consistently become sources of national pride at the Games.
Tobi Amusan named Nigeria's flag bearer
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) have confirmed that athletics star Tobi Amusan will be the country's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Amusan will leave Team Nigeria's contingent out for the customary walk during the opening ceremony of the 2024 games.
Team Nigeria will participate in 11 events, including women's football, where the Super Falcons will open their campaign against Brazil on July 25.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay Informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: TUKO.co.ke
