African Athletes Shine: Historic Wins and Record-Breaking Performances Across Cycling, Marathons, and Swimming

CAC African Road Championships

The CAC African Road Championships showcased some of the continent’s finest cycling talent from [insert date range] to October 13. Eritrean cyclist Henok Mulubrhan made history by clinching the road race championship title for an incredible third consecutive year. After victories in Egypt in 2022 and Ghana in 2023, Mulubrhan secured his latest win in Kenya, beating South Africa’s Emile Van Niekerk, who took silver, and Uganda’s Charles Kagimu, who placed third. Eritrea dominated the championships with an impressive haul of 16 medals—7 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze—further cementing its status as a powerhouse in African cycling.

Photo:@Tesfanews

Chicago Marathon

Ruth Chepngetich achieved a groundbreaking feat at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, becoming the first woman in history to finish a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes. She completed the race with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. On the men’s side, John Korir of Kenya crossed the line in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 44 seconds, just 2 minutes and 9 seconds shy of the record set by Kelvin Kiptum last year with a time of 2:00:35.

Photo:@KevinMorris

Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon saw a record-setting turnout, with over 6,200 participants finishing the race, making it the largest marathon in Canada. Ethiopian women dominated the podium, taking the top four spots. Waganesh Mekasha led the pack, smashing the previous course record with a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 44 seconds, earning her the $20,000 prize along with an additional $10,000 for breaking the record. Roza Dereje, returning to competition after a three-year break to start a family, claimed second place, while Afera Godfay finished third, achieving a new personal best of 2:21:50.

Photo:@TheCanadianPress

In the men’s race, Ethiopian runner Mulugeta Uma secured victory with a time of 2:07:16. Although he had hoped to break the course record of 2:05:00, Uma’s performance was strong enough to win. Close behind him was Domenic Ngeno, who improved his personal best by three seconds with a time of 2:07:23, followed by Kenya’s Noah Kipkemboi in third place, also setting a personal best at 2:07:31.

Photo:@TheCanadianPress

2024 Swimming World Cup – Shanghai

Four South African swimmers made a significant impact at the first stop of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, proudly representing Africa as the continent’s sole participants. Their collective efforts resulted in an impressive tally of nine medals, a remarkable achievement that highlights their exceptional talent on the global stage.

Leading the team was Pieter Coetze, who emerged as South Africa’s top performer with a total of four medals. The 20-year-old, who already has two Olympic Games appearances under his belt, secured gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke, showcasing his dominance in these events. In the 100m backstroke, he outpaced Olympic and long-course world champion Thomas Ceccon, finishing with a time of 49.35 seconds, setting a new African continental record and beating his previous best from the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne. Coetze also claimed silver in the 50m backstroke, narrowly missing gold by just 0.20 seconds behind Australia’s Isaac Cooper, and added a bronze in the 100m freestyle, further proving his versatility.

Rebecca Meder also had a stellar performance, securing three bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, as well as the 200m medley. Meder’s most notable achievement came in the 200m medley, where she clocked 2:07.72—over a second faster than her qualifying time—to secure her third bronze of the meet. At just 22, Meder continues to make her mark as one of South Africa’s rising stars in international swimming.

Veteran swimmer Chad Le Clos added to South Africa’s medal count with silver in the 200m butterfly and bronze in the 100m butterfly. Le Clos, one of Africa’s most decorated swimmers, proved once again why he remains a formidable force in butterfly events. On the opening day, he and Meder both claimed bronze, with Le Clos’ performance in the 100m butterfly setting the tone for the rest of the meet.

As the first stop of three World Cup stops this year, with Incheon (Korea) and Singapore still to come, the Shanghai leg set the stage for what promises to be an exciting World Cup series for Team South Africa.

From Henok Mulubrhan’s remarkable third consecutive road race victory at the CAC African Road Championships, to Ruth Chepngetich’s groundbreaking world record in the Chicago Marathon, African athletes are setting new benchmarks for excellence. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon saw Ethiopian runners break records, while South Africa’s swimmers made waves in Shanghai, securing nine medals at the 2024 Swimming World Cup.

These achievements reflect the increasing global competitiveness of African athletes, with their determination and skill inspiring future generations. As we look ahead, the continent’s presence in international sports is only expected to grow stronger, with each victory contributing to Africa’s rich sporting legacy.

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