ProTouch Africa Podium Pursuit: Weekly Wrap-Up

2 September 2024 – Welcome to this week’s round-up, brought to you by ProTouch Africa Podium Pursuit!

As we shine a spotlight on the remarkable talent and celebrate the achievements of African athletes on the world stage, we’re excited to bring you the standout moments from the past week. From electrifying competitions to incredible individual performances, our digital clubhouse — the Podium Pursuit Fan App — keeps you connected to every victory and milestone. Get ready to cheer on your favourite African athletes as they chase greatness!

Highlights – Diamond League Rome

The Diamond League made its thrilling return to Rome, with African athletes making their mark in several events.

Photo: @Gallo Images

Tebogo Dominates the Men’s 100m: Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, already a force in the 200m this season, shifted his focus to the 100m in Rome. The 21-year-old displayed his remarkable speed, surging ahead in the final meters to clinch victory with a time of 9.87 seconds, outpacing American sprinters Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley.
Samukonga Shines in the Men’s 400m: Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga continued his extraordinary season by winning the 400m in Rome. Following his Olympic bronze medal win, the 21-year-old recorded a time of 43.99 seconds, outlasting competitors like Kirani James of Grenada and Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago.
Kipyegon Cruises in the Women’s 1 500m: Although the race was initially touted as a potential world record attempt, unpredictable pacemaking made it unlikely. However, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon showed her class once again, comfortably winning in 3:52.89. Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Birke Haylom followed, both setting personal bests.
Chemutai Sets Ugandan Record in Women’s 3 000m Steeplechase: The women’s 3 000m steeplechase saw a fierce battle for the world record. While the mark remained intact, Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai set a national record with her second-place finish, clocking 8:48.03. The race was won by Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, narrowly missing the world record by just seven-hundredths of a second.
Ethiopia Sweeps the Men’s 5 000m Podium: The men’s 5 000m was another highlight, with Ethiopian athletes dominating the race. Hagos Gebrhiwet led the charge, winning in 12:51.07, followed closely by his compatriots Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega, who finished second and third, respectively.

Stay tuned as the Diamond League heads to Zurich before the final in Brussels. Be sure to download the Podium Pursuit Fan App, for all the latest updates and in-depth coverage.

Rugby Championship 2024 – South Africa vs. New Zealand

In the Rugby Championship, South Africa faced off against New Zealand in a nail-biting encounter that saw the Springboks secure a crucial win.

The match was closely contested, with both teams trading tries in the first half. South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith crossed the line, keeping the Springboks in the game despite a yellow card to Aphelele Fassi. In the end, Grant Williams scored the decisive try in the 74th minute, sealing the victory for South Africa and extending their lead at the top of the tournament table by eight points over New Zealand.

Don’t forget to visit our match center on the Podium Pursuit app, where you can predict winners, earn rewards, and stay up to date on all the action!

World U20 Championships: African Athletes Excel on the Global Stage

The World U20 Athletics Championships showcased the immense talent and potential of young African athletes, who delivered outstanding performances across multiple events, contributing significantly to their countries’ medal tallies.

Ethiopia’s Dominance: Ethiopia emerged as the top-performing African nation at the Championships, securing a total of 10 medals, including 6 golds. The country’s success was led by standout performances such as Medina Eisa’s victory in the Women’s 5 000m, where she not only claimed gold but also set a personal best. The Ethiopian team also demonstrated its depth in the Women’s 3 000m, with Aleshign Baweke taking gold and Marta Alemayo adding a bronze. On the men’s side, General Berhanu Ayansa powered to victory in the Men’s 800m, underscoring Ethiopia’s strength in middle-distance running.
Kenya’s Impressive Medal Haul: Kenya continued its tradition of excellence in distance running, finishing the Championships with 7 medals, including 3 golds. Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi’s gold in the Men’s 5 000m was a highlight, showcasing his endurance and tactical prowess. Kenya also dominated the Women’s 800m, with Sarah Moraa clinching gold in a commanding performance. Additionally, the country secured multiple medals in the steeplechase events, reaffirming its status as a powerhouse in this discipline. Denis Kipkoech’s silver in the Men’s 3 000m Steeplechase and Diana Chepkemoi’s bronze in the Women’s 3 000m Steeplechase added to Kenya’s impressive tally.
South Africa’s Sprinting Success: South Africa made a significant impact, particularly in the sprint events, where Bayanda Walaza emerged as a star. Walaza achieved the rare feat of becoming a sprint double champion, winning gold in both the Men’s 100m and 200m, showcasing his speed and consistency. The South African team also excelled in the relay events, with the Men’s 4x400m Relay Team securing a silver medal. In field events, JL van Rensburg’s silver in the Men’s Shot Put and Hannah van Niekerk’s bronze in the Women’s 400m Hurdles further bolstered South Africa’s medal count.
Tunisia’s Historic Gold: Tunisia made its presence felt at the Championships, with Rayen Cherni delivering a historic performance in the Men’s 10,000m Race Walk. Cherni’s gold medal not only highlighted Tunisia’s emerging talent in race walking but also added a prestigious gold to the country’s medal tally, marking Tunisia’s strong entry into the competition.
Uganda’s Rising Stars: Uganda’s athletes continued to shine, particularly in the middle and long-distance events. The country secured 3 medals, including a silver in the Women’s 3 000m Steeplechase by Loice Chekwemoi, who set a new personal best. In the Men’s 5 000m, Keneth Kiprop’s bronze medal added to Uganda’s growing reputation in distance running. Uganda’s consistent performances throughout the Championships were a testament to the country’s dedication to nurturing young talent.

Medal Tally Recap:

The World U20 Athletics Championships not only highlighted the incredible talent of these young athletes but also set the stage for the future of African athletics on the global scene. As they return home, these athletes carry with them the pride of their nations and the promise of even greater achievements in the years to come.

Paralympic Games: Africa on the Medal Table

The Paralympic Games kicked off with a strong start for Africa, as Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili won Africa’s first medal—a gold in the Women’s Shot Put F41 with a throw of 10.40m. This victory marked her seventh Paralympic gold, cementing her status as a dominant force in the sport.

Keep following the action with our #Paris2024 blog on the Podium Pursuit Fan App for more updates and a comprehensive review at the conclusion of the games.

Download the Podium Pursuit FanApp today and embark on a journey filled with passion, competition, and unforgettable moments in the world of sports!

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.