Cape Verde

Cape Verde boasts a rich sporting heritage, with a line-up of exceptional athletes who have left an indelible mark on the global stage.

 Foremost among them is marathon runner and Olympic medallist Fernanda Ribeiro, who clinched gold in the 10,000 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and silver in the same event in Sydney 2000, alongside a bronze at the 1997 World Championships in Athens. Sprinter and Olympic medallist Francis Obikwelu also shined, securing silver in the 100 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics and bronze in the same event in Beijing 2008.

Beyond athletics, Cape Verde has made waves in football, reaching the Africa Cup of Nations and even the quarter-finals in 2017. World-class volleyball players like Nuno Pinheiro have brought home gold from the 2003 World Championships and silver from the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Not to be outdone, Cape Verde’s sailors have garnered Olympic medals, including a gold in the Laser class at the 2004 Athens Olympics, underscoring the nation’s prowess in various sporting arenas.