African athletes illuminate the global stage in 2023

Africa
Staff reporter
In 2023, African athletes continued to shine on the global sporting stage, achieving remarkable feats and setting new records.
Here are some of the standout achievements:
1. World Athletics Championships 2023:
• Kenyan athletes excelled, winning gold in the Women’s 800m, 1500m, and 5000m, among other medals.• Ethiopia followed closely with significant wins, including gold in the Women’s 10,000m and Marathon.• Uganda, Burkina Faso, Morocco, and Botswana also claimed medals in various track and field events.
2. World Rugby Champions:
• South Africa’s rugby team, the Springboks, defended their Rugby World Cup title, beating New Zealand in a closely contested final. This victory marked their fourth Rugby World Cup win, a remarkable achievement in the sport.
3. Marathon World Records:

• Ethiopian Tigist Assefa set a new world record in the marathon at the BMW Berlin Marathon, completing the race in an astounding 2:11:53.

• Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya also set a world record in the marathon at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2:00:35.

4. World Athletics – Track and Field Records:

• Faith Kipyegon from Kenya set world records in three different distances (1500m, 5000m, and the mile) during the season and won gold medals in both the 1500m and 5000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

5. Rising Stars in Athletics:
• Kenyan teenagers Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi emerged as rising stars, winning medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Cherotich claimed bronze in the 3000m steeplechase, and Wanyonyi secured silver in the 800m.
6. Historical Achievements in Athletics:
• The evolution of African athletics has been marked by the phenomenal achievements of athletes like Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia, who have set multiple world records and won numerous gold medals in various international championships over the years.
Earlier this week Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon was named women’s World Athlete of the Year on the track by World Athletics Monday (11 December) in a ceremony held in Monaco.

After breaking the 1500m and 5000m world records in 2023, Kipyegon stormed to gold over both distances in the 2023 World Athletics Championships.Other African continent winners included: Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa (World Athlete of the Year – Women’s Out of Stadia);  Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum (World Athlete of the Year – Men’s Out of Stadia). Kenya swept the Rising Stars of the Year awards with Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi picking up the honours.Winners were decided by the results of a ballot that combines the votes of the World Athletics Council (50%), the World Athletics Family (25%) and members of the public (25%).

In 2024, three of the biggest sporting events on the African continent are:
1. African Cup of Nations: Scheduled to be held from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in Ivory Coast. This event is a significant celebration of football excellence in Africa, bringing together top national teams from across the continent for a vibrant and competitive tournament.
2. African Games: Taking place from March 8 to March 23, 2024, in Ghana (Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast). The African Games are a major multi-sport event, featuring a wide range of sports and bringing together athletes from across Africa. This event is a showcase of the continent’s diverse sporting talent and also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and unity among African nations.
3. CAF Women’s African Cup of Nations:

Picture: X/@_AfricanUnion

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