Togo: Nation Wins First Olympic Medal

13 August 2008
allAfrica.com
By Aliou Goloko

Benjamin Boukpeti earned a bronze medal for Togo in the men's kayak slalom, the first ever Olympic win for the West African nation.

To be able to compete in a sport that remains largely unknown in Africa, Boukpeti, whose mother is French, trained in France, along with his French counterparts including the winner of the silver medal, Fabien Lefevre.

Thanks in part to prayers from Lome, Togo's capital, the 27-year-old paddled his way to victory to cheers from an enthusiastic crowd at Shunyi Park, where the event took place.

Four years ago Boukpeti came 18th in the event in the Athens Olympics. The last entry on his personal blog notes on July 25, "I secretly hope to be my country's flag bearer."

Little did he know he would be a source of great pride in Togo and beyond.

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