Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)

Africa's Booty at London Olympics

analysis

Photo: BackpagePix
Ethiopia's Meseret Defar celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 5000m final, beating her teammate - and 10000m gold medallist - Tirunesh Dibaba, who won bronze.

From over 40 medals won at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Africa has seen its haul of medals at the 30th Olympiad in London 2012 drastically drop to only about half that size.

Africa has so far won 22 medals with the bulk of the medals coming from South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia. The first African country on the medal table is South Africa with six medals; five gold and one silver. The South African medals were won mostly in the men's lightweight and men's 200m butterfly through athletes such as Chad Le clos, Thompson James, Van der Burgh Cameron, Ndlovu Sizwe and Britain Matthew.

The second on the continent in terms of medal count is Kenya with five medals; one gold, one silver and three bronze notably in the 3.000m and 10.000m steeple chase events in both the male and female categories. The medal fetchers comprise Ezekiel Kemboi, Abel Kiprop Mutai, Priscah Jeptoo, Kipyego Sally Jephosgei and Cheruiyot Vivian Jepkemoi.

Ethiopia like Kenya also distinguished self through the long distance athletics events winning gold in the women's marathon and 10.000m races and two bronze medals in the Women's 3000m steeple chase through Sofia Assefa and 10.000m race through Tariku Bekele. Dibaba Tirunesh got the gold for her country in the women's 10.000m event while Tiki Gelana did the same in the women marathon.

Egypt and Tunisia have two medals each while Algeria and Morocco close the chart with one medal each. The two silver medals for Egypt were won by Karim Mohamed and Alaaeldin Abouelkassam in the men's Greco roman 84kg and men's individual foil events respectively. Whereas Tunisia won silver in the women's 3000m steeplechase event through Habiba Ghribi and bronze in the men's 1500m freestyle through Oussama Mellouli. The lone medal for Algeria is in gold, won by Taoufik Makhloufi in the men's 1500m whereas that for Morocco is in bronze and was won by Abdalaati Iguider equally in the men's 1500m event.

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Comments Post a comment

  • nhamo64
    Aug 10 2012, 10:49

    Please why dont you verify your facts exact before writing.South Africa yes has the highest number of medals but they are five not six and the gold medals are three not four.One silver and one bronze....Srill well done South Africa!

  • Truth Teller
    Aug 10 2012, 13:21

    @nhamo64, actually, the writer mentioned, "South Africa with six medals; five gold and one silver." ... He did not say S. Africa has four Gold - as you tried to correct it. So, let me correct your correction. The writer has also made other mistakes in naming the events and misplacing the Olympians name - like, "10.000m steeple chase events" and "Dibaba Tirunesh", as well. But, the way it's written, it looks like he was rushing to post his analysis.

  • raulwhite15
    Aug 12 2012, 06:17

    my neighbor's mom brought home $20050 the previous month. she has been making cash on the internet and bought a $395600 house. All she did was get lucky and apply the tips shown on this website http://linkpot.net/christen/

InFocus

Ethiopia Squeezes Kenyan in Olympic Athletics

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Ethiopian Meseret Defar deprived her teammate Tirunesh Dibaba an Olympic double for a second time when she produced a home-stretch sprint to claim victory in the women's 5000m ... Read more »