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2024 was a great year for sporting fans with several high-profile events dotting the calendar, particularly the Olympic Games in Paris.

Here’s a roundup of notable events involving African athletes around the world, as well as major sporting highlights from the continent.

OLYMPICS

There were so many star performances by African athletes and highlights from the Summer Games in Paris, but some stood out more than others.

Botswana’s sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo became the first African man to win the men’s Olympic 200m race. The 21-year-old also set a new African record over the distance as he captured Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. Tebogo also anchored Botswana to win silver in the men’s 4×400 metres relay in an African record time of 2:54.53.

Morocco claimed its first-ever Olympic medal in men’s football by defeating Egypt in the bronze medal match. It marked the first time Morocco advanced past the Olympics’ group stage. The Atlas Lions’ superb run to the semifinals reinforced the country’s impressive rise in football in the last few years.

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya cemented her status as one of the best middle-distance runners with victory in the women’s 1,500m. Kipyegon won the race in an Olympic record time of 3:51.29 and became the first athlete to win gold in the event at three different Olympic Games.

Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour became the first African athlete to win an Olympic gymnastics medal. The 17-year-old outshone a host of seasoned star gymnasts to win the uneven bars event.

Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge missed out on winning a third successive Olympic marathon. It was the first time in Kipchoge’s 11-year marathon stint that he failed to finish a race. After the race, Kipchoge said he would not compete at another Olympics.

FOOTBALL

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final as Atalanta thumped Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win their second major trophy in their 117-year history. Lookman also starred for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations where they finished as runners-up behind Cote d’Ivoire, and Atalanta who finished in the top four in Italy’s Serie A. The 27-year-old then capped off a memorable year by being named CAF Men’s Player of the Year.

Egypt again dominated the continental football scene with serial winners Al Ahly edging out Tunisia’s Esperance to claim a record-extending 12th Champions League title. Al Ahly’s eternal rivals Zamalek completed a sweep of major continental club honours defeating RS Berkane of Morocco to win the Confederation Cup for a second time.

Zambian striker Barbra Banda enjoyed a fantastic year making history by becoming the first player in women’s football to score three hat-tricks at the Olympic Games. Banda would also go on to lead the U.S-based Orlando Pride to their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) titles. The 24-year-old scored 17 goals in 25 games for Pride who won both the NWSL Shield and Championship. Her exploits earned her the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, as well as becoming the first player from Africa to be voted into the FIFPRO Women’s World 11.

Still in the United States, Malawian forward Temwa Chawinga shattered several records as she was voted the 2024 NWSL Most Valuable Player. Chawinga won the 2024 NWSL Golden Boot as she set a new regular season scoring record with 20 goals. She also became the first player in NWSL history to score against all 13 other teams in a single season and set the NWSL’s single-season record for goal contributions.

RUGBY

Reigning world champions South Africa were in imperious form winning 11 of the 13 Tests they played this year. The Springboks also won the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 and finished the year where they started, atop the World Rugby rankings. Springbok forward Pieter-Steph du Toit also won the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award for the second time in his career.

BASKETBALL

Petro de Luanda of Angola claimed their first Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship after defeating Libya’s Al Ahly Ly. This was the first time that a team from Sub-Saharan Africa had won the BAL Finals. The three previous winners had come from North Africa: Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt, and Tunisia’s US Monastir.

CYCLING

In July, trailblazing Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay made history as the first black African to win a stage at the Tour de France. Girmay won two more race stages and went on to become the first black African to claim the prestigious green jersey, which is awarded to the event’s best sprinter. Girmay expressed hope that his victory would be the first of many more by the continent’s Black cyclists.

CRICKET

It was a double heartbreak for South Africa as they agonizingly came up short in both the men’s and women’s T20 World Cup. The men’s team narrowly lost to favorites India by just 7 runs at Kensington Oval in Barbados in June. Then, later in October, the women’s team lost in the final for the second successive time, going down to New Zealand by 32 runs in the United Arab Emirates.

TRAGEDY

As big a success as 2024 was for athletes across the continent, the year was also a difficult one in terms of tragedies within the sporting fraternity.

Kenyan world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash in February in Kaptagat in western Kenya. It was only in October last year that Kiptum recorded a time of 2:00:35 in the Chicago Marathon to break the previous world record set by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:09) in September 2022.

South African boxer Dingaan Thobela, known as “The Rose of Soweto”, died in April. He was 57. Thobela was a two-weight world champion winning the WBO lightweight title in 1990 and the WBA lightweight title three years later. The highlight of his career was defeating Glenn Catley to win the WBC super middleweight title in 2000.

Uganda’s Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei died in Trans-Nzoia County in western Kenya in September after her partner set her on fire. Her death reignited calls for the protection of female athletes facing gender-based violence and exploitation in the country.

Côte d’Ivoire defender Souleymane Bamba also died in September after a short illness. He played for several clubs including Leeds United, Cardiff City and Leicester City. He also made 46 appearances for the Ivorian national team.

Early in December, 56 people were killed in a stampede at a stadium in Nzerekore in southeast Guinea. According to authorities, a disputed refereeing decision sparked the violence and subsequent crush.