Africa’s Booty at London Olympics
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. – allAfrica.com
Posted by