African Olympic success: medal trends & top performing nations (1980-2024)

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April 15, 2025
African Olympic success medal trends & top performing nations (1980-2024)
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African nations have always been a force to be reckoned with in athletics, especially during the Summer Olympics. From 1980 to 2024, they won 341 Olympic medals, contributing to Africa’s overall tally of 479 by 2022. Kenya leads with 113 medals (35 gold), followed by South Africa with 89 (27 gold) and Ethiopia with 58 (23 gold). In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Africa won 35 medals, with 13 gold, and Kenya topped the African nations with 11.

Here’s a detailed table summarizing the trends of the African countries awarded medals in the Summer Olympics from 1980-2024:

PeriodKey African Countries Awarded MedalsNotable SportsKey Milestones
1980-1992Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, NigeriaAthletics (middle and long-distance running)Kenya and Ethiopia established dominance in long-distance events; Morocco's Said Aouita won gold in the 5,000m in 1984.
1996-2008South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, NigeriaAthletics, Swimming, FootballSouth Africa's Penny Heyns won double gold in swimming (1996), Nigeria's men's football team clinched gold in 1996, and Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie secured consecutive golds in the 10,000m (1996, 2000).
2012-2024Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, AlgeriaAthletics, Swimming, TaekwondoKenya's David Rudisha set a world record in the 800m (2012); South Africa's Chad le Clos defeated Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly (2012); Ivory Coast's Cheick Sallah Cissé won gold in Taekwondo (2016); Botswana's Letsile Tebogo secured the country's first Olympic gold in the 200m (2024).

Key takeaways

  • 1980-1992: The African nations won 79 Olympic medals.
  • 1996-2008: African nations secured 112 medals, including 38 gold.
  • 2012-2024: African nations achieved 150 medals, 55 of which were gold.

Trends of the African countries awarded medals in the Summer Olympics from 1980-2024

1980–1992: Emergence and expansion

From 1980 to 1992, African nations achieved 79 Olympic medals. In 1980, even with the boycott of the Olympics in Moscow, they won 13 medals. The 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles were magnificent, with African nations collectively winning 42 medals (15 gold). 

Africa achieved 13 medals (3 gold) during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Last, in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, African countries won 11 medals (2 gold). The period witnessed growth in numbers and various events for the African nations.

1996–2008: Consolidation and growth

From 1996 to 2008, Africa won 112 Olympic medals (38 gold). When South Africa joined the Olympics in 1996, Africa won 32 (11 gold) and achieved five medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). 

Africa won 54 medals (20 gold) in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, nine golds and 34 in 2004, and 13 golds and 40 in 2008. Thus, its performance in the Olympics significantly improved.

2012–2024: Diversification and resilience

From 2012-2024, 150 Olympic medals, 55 of them gold, were won by African nations. At the 2012 London Olympics, African countries won 46 medals (21 gold). At the 2016 Rio Olympics, African countries won 40 medals (10 gold). At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, African countries won 44 medals (10 gold). Finally, 35 medals (13 gold) were won in 2024 at the Paris Olympics, with Kenya leading the continent with 11 (4 gold) and South Africa with 6 (1 gold).

Conclusion

From 1980 to 2024, African nations have shown an upward trend in medal growth during the Summer Olympics, led by Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia. Kenya has accumulated 113 medals, including 35 golds, mostly in long-distance running events. 

South Africa has picked up 89 medals with 26 golds, dominated by swimming and athletics. Ethiopia has secured 58 medals, of which 22 were gold, mostly in long-distance running events. This trend underlines the expanding influence of Africa in international sports.

FAQs

How many medals has Africa won in the Olympics in 2024?

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the African contingent won 35 medals: 13 gold, 12 silver, and 14 bronze.

Which African country has the most Olympic medals?

The Kenyans topped the African nations with 11 medals, of which 4 were gold. 

Who was the first African to win Olympics?

Constantin Henriquez, a Haitian-born athlete who won a bronze medal in the men's 400-meter hurdles at the 1900 Paris Games, was the first African to win an Olympic medal.

How many times have the Summer Olympics been held in Africa?

Although the Summer Olympics have never been held in Africa, Egypt has announced its interest in holding them in 2036, making it the first African country to do so.

Author:
Fredrick Eghosa
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