2024 Athlete Celebration: January’s Triumphs and Moments of Glory

What a year it has been for the athletes from Africa! With records shattered, podiums swept, and history made, 2024 has been a standout year for sports across the continent. As part of our Celebrating 2024 Campaign, we’re bringing you a month-by-month recap of Africa’s sporting triumphs.

Join us as we revisit the electrifying highlights and proud moments that have defined this incredible year. Let’s begin with January, where the action kicked off with African athletes making waves on the global stage!

Dubai Marathon Success

January was a historic month for African long-distance runners at the Dubai Marathon. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema smashed a world record en route to winning the gold medal. Fellow Ethiopians Ruti Aga and Dera Dida followed closely, earning silver and bronze, respectively. The men’s race continued the Ethiopian dominance, with Addisu Gobena crossing the line first to secure another gold for his nation.

Valencia 10km Marathon Record

Over in Spain, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich delivered a remarkable performance at the Valencia 10km Marathon, breaking the world record. It was an all-African podium in the women’s category, with African athletes also claiming 2 of the 3 podium spots in the men’s race. Africa’s dominance in road races continued to shine bright on the global stage.

Photo Credit: World Athletics 

Mumbai Marathon & Gangwon Youth Olympics

The winning streak extended to India, where African athletes claimed both the men’s and women’s gold medals at the Mumbai Marathon. Meanwhile, at the Gangwon Youth Olympics, Tunisia’s bobsleigh team made history by securing Africa’s only medal — a silver, in what marked a huge moment for African representation in winter sports.

Meeting de l’Eure Triumphs

January wasn’t just about marathons; African athletes excelled across a range of sports at the Meeting de l’Eure. The event saw African talent bring home 4 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronze medals, proving the continent’s strength across multiple disciplines. It was another proud moment that showcased the immense versatility of Africa’s athletes.

Hockey5s World Cup Breakthrough

South Africa’s women’s Hockey5s team made headlines at the inaugural Hockey5s World Cup, finishing 4th in a fiercely competitive field. Although they narrowly missed a medal, the team’s success was monumental. Thanks to a crowdfunding campaign led by ProTouch Africa and Podium Pursuit, which raised over 800 000 rand, the team was able to participate on the world stage and represent South Africa with pride.

Photo Credit: G Sport 

New Partnerships and Blog Development

In addition to sporting triumphs, January also marked important partnerships and developments. Our collaboration with Tickaroo enhanced our coverage of African sports, providing fans with real-time updates and deeper insights. We also began work on our AFCON blog — a comprehensive resource that will keep football fans up-to-date on all things related to African football as the year progresses. This is already updated with the latest results and 2025 Qualifiers. You can view this HERE.

Athlete Profiles and App Growth

Behind the scenes, our Podium Pursuit “digital clubhouse” Fan App platform continued to grow rapidly as we went live in beta. By the end of January, we had built and imported more than 2 000 digital athlete profiles. Our community of fans reached almost 600 fans, demonstrating the growing excitement surrounding African sports and our platform’s role in bringing it to the forefront.

January gave us so many reasons to celebrate, but the excitement doesn’t stop here! Next week, we’ll dive into February’s most memorable moments and achievements as our Celebrating 2024 Campaign continues. Stay tuned for more record-breaking performances and inspiring stories from Africa’s finest athletes, her and you can listen to our podcast on OMNIAUDIO, with host Tanaka Mhundwa.

Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD the Podium Pursuit Fan App for exclusive updates and look out for February’s highlights!

Brought to you by

PROTOUCH AFRICA is a purpose-led and Sports Tech business founded in 2016 with a focus on enabling African Athletes to perform on the World Stage.

It is pioneering new ways for fans to interact and engage with their favourite teams, leagues, and athletes and enable alternative revenue streams.

ProTouch Africa’s Podium Pursuit Project is focused on creating a transparent and sustainable funding mechanism for the next generation of African Athletes. Its vision is to launch the World’s first fan-owned impact investment platform for African Athletes in 2024 by assembling an ecosystem of top-performing athletes, their fans, and the brands that support them.