Olympics roundup: Making a continent proud
If young Africans can find a way to improve their lives through their talent in sport, then African governments must incorporate into their national budgets the development and proper remuneration.
Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir, Eliud Kipchoge, Peres Jepchirchir, Faith Kipyegon, are the names making Kenyans proud. These athletes brought home gold medals as Olympic champions in the men's 800 metres, men's marathon, women's marathon and women's 1500 metres. Kenya was the highest ranked African nation at the Tokyo Olympics with 10 medals won, including 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze.
Egypt followed with 6 medals, including gold for the first time by a woman, Karetaka Feryal Abdelaziz. Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei, 25, made history for his country, Uganda, by becoming Olympic champion in the 5,000m and runner-up in the 10,000m this year in Tokyo. In all, Uganda won 2 gold medals, one of which was won by Peruth Chemtai in the 3000m Steeplechase, 1 silver and 1 bronze. South Africa won 1 gold with Tatjana Schoenmaker in the 200m Breaststroke and 2 silvers. At only 21 years old, Ethiopia's Selemon Barega won the gold medal in the men's 10,000m. In total, Ethiopia won 4 medals, with 1 silver and 2 bronze in addition to the gold.
Tunisia had two medals, the gold being won by the hope of African Youth in the 400m freestyle, swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui who is only 18 years old. Making his country proud, Soufiane El Bakkali brought home the first Gold medal for Morocco in the 3000m Steeplechase. Nigeria won 1 Silver and 1 Bronze, Namibia got a Silver medal. Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Ghana each won a Bronze medal. When listing the medals won, the name of the country of the athlete is often mentioned before the athlete's name. This means that these athletes are not just doing sport, they are not just competing for themselves, but for their nation and the whole African continent. Their efforts, their sweat, and the medals they win with a smile, with the flag of their country that they often proudly put on their back after each victory, demonstrate unfailing patriotism. Let us be proud of our athletes who have made all of Africa victorious. Bravo and thank you.
In his book the "Outliers" Malcolm Gladwell views the idea that “it is the best and the brightest who reach the top” as far too simplistic, success is the result of cumulative advantages. There is no doubt that those athletes who reach the top today are more talented than most of us. But what makes them different from others is the opportunities they have had that have given them a head start and allowed them to succeed. Sometimes it is the difficulties we face in our lives that give us an advantage over others.
Brigid Kosgei, the Kenyan runner-up in the women's marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics said: "My school was 10km from home and sometimes to avoid getting late I would run. On my way I met athletes who were training and said to myself: 'I can be like them,'“. In other words, if her primary school was next door, she might not have brought home the silver medal to Kenya for the 2020 Olympics. However, Kosgei's example does not mean that young Africans should be left behind, to be convinced to use their difficulties as an opportunity. On the contrary, in order to expect more medallists, African governments will have to create opportunities for young Africans, because it is these that turn into successes and medals. And the more medals athletes win, the more attention they receive, and the better training conditions they have. The more records they set, the more chances they have to benefit from special opportunities that will lead them to other more ambitious successes like the Olympic Games and make the continent proud.
But Rome wasn't built in a day, and these champions didn't just get medals overnight. They committed their bodies and souls to hours of training every day, while being careful not to break the rules of their sport. Indeed, would it be possible to reach the level of performance of the Olympians if, while training, the athletes were still working full time to make ends meet? The answer is no if we consider that it takes 10,000 hours of training to reach an athlete's full potential and perform at an elite level, which is equivalent to 10 years of training and competition. This time is valuable, especially if it is intended to honour a nation. If young Africans can find a way to improve their lives through their talent in sport, then African governments must incorporate into their national budgets the development and proper remuneration of those who are at the professional stage. It is time for Africa to value the talents of its people as a more influential nation in world sport could bring economic development in return.