Top 10 African Countries Dominating Athletics

In Summary

• Africa’s track and field powerhouses have earned hundreds of medals across the Olympics, World Championships, and continental events.
• Icons like Eliud Kipchoge, Hicham El Guerrouj, and Tobi Amusan shine alongside new stars such as Letsile Tebogo and Beatrice Chebet.
• From Kenya’s endurance kings to Nigeria’s sprint queens, these nations continue to shape the future of global athletics.

Deep Dive!!

Lagos, Nigeria, Thursday, September 25—Athletics goes beyond sports for Africa, extending into a way of life, cultural identity, and a means of gaining international recognition. African athletes have continued to dazzle the world with record-breaking exploits over the years in major road marathons, the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships.

What comes to mind when African athletics is discussed is a distance runner from Kenya or Ethiopia running across lengthy track or marathon courses. Well, there’s more. Africa now houses some elite sprinters like Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and Namibia’s Christine Mboma, and hurdlers like Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan.

In this article, we set focus on the African countries that are dominating the athletics scene globally through impeccable achievements, all-time African medals (1979–2024), legendary athletes and rising stars produced.

10. Ghana

At the World Athletics Championships, Ghana has taken home two medals in total: one bronze and one silver. Ghana's medal haul at the African Athletics Championships is much larger, with a total of 101 medals (35 gold, 35 silver, and 31 bronze). They are yet to win an Olympic medal, but Ghana is emerging rapidly on the global athletics scene. 

Star athletes like Rose Yeboah became the first Ghanaian woman to reach a Worlds High Jump final (9th place), solidifying their position amongst the elite African countries in athletics.

Other Famous Ghanaian Athletes:

• Aziz Zakari: 100m specialist, Olympic finalist (2004, 8th in 10.04s).
• Joseph Paul Amoah: 200m ace, Paris 2024 flagbearer, African Games gold (2023).
• Margaret Simpson: Heptathlon bronze at 2005 Worlds, Olympic finalist (2008).
• Benjamin Azamati: Relay anchor, 2025 Worlds standout, sub-10s 100m sprinter.

9. Tunisia

With 115 medals from the African Championship (39 gold, 41 silver, and 35 bronze), Tunisia has a well-rounded athletic program that excels in field events like discus and javelin as well as middle-distance and steeplechase. Their five medals total from the Olympics comprise two gold, one silver, and two bronze. 

They have excelled in race walking and steeplechase, and they have also achieved crossover success in swimming. Tunisia won four medals in athletics at the 2023 African Games, including gold in the women's 10,000-meter race. They are a hub for North African athletics because of their steady continental results and expanding international recognition.

Famous Tunisian Athletes:

• Habiba Ghribi: First Tunisian woman to win an Olympic athletics medal (silver, 3000m steeplechase, 2012; upgraded from bronze). African champion in 2014.
• Mohammed Gammoudi: Legendary middle-distance runner, Olympic gold (5000m, 1968), silver (10,000m, 1964), bronze (5000m, 1972).
• Oussama Mellouli: Swimming icon (Olympic gold, 1500m freestyle, 2008; bronze, 2012), but his endurance inspires Tunisia’s athletics culture.

8. Senegal

Senegal's dominance in sprinting and jumping events, especially the 400-meter, long-distance, and hurdles, is demonstrated by their 153 African Championship medals (43 gold, 55 silver, and 55 bronze). Despite having no medals to date in Olympic athletics, they have had a major continental influence, winning five medals at the 2023 African Games, including gold in the women's long jump and men's 400-meter hurdles. 

Their standing as a dominant power in West African athletics is cemented by their steady performances at the African Championships and increasing visibility at international competitions such as the 2025 World Championships, where Senegal advanced to the men's 4x400m relay final.

Famous Senegalese Athletes:

• Amy Mbacké Thiam: 400m world champion (2001, 49.86s), Olympic finalist (2000, 2004), and African Championships gold medalist.
• Amadou Dia Ba: First Senegalese Olympic medalist (silver, 400m hurdles, 1988), setting a national record (47.23s).
• Fatou Bintou Fall: African champion in 400m, consistent relay contributor.
• Ndiss Kaba Badji: Long jump and triple jump specialist, multiple African medals, 2008 Olympian.

7. Egypt

Egypt's increasing skill in field events, especially throws (shot put, discus) and leaps (high jump, triple jump), as demonstrated by their 146 African Championship medals (36 gold, 59 silver, and 51 bronze). 

Egypt's continental consistency and recent achievements indicate a growing athletics hub in North Africa, despite their Olympic athletics medal count being limited to one bronze. They won six medals in athletics at the 2023 African Games, including gold in the women's hammer throw and men's shot put.

Famous Egyptian Athletes:

• Ihab Abdelrahman: Javelin thrower, African Games gold (2019), Olympian (2012, 2016).
• Karam Gaber: Wrestling icon (Olympic gold, 2004), whose strength-based success inspires Egypt’s throwers.

6. Ethiopia

Ethiopia has won 180 medals at the African Championship (50 gold, 67 silver, and 63 bronze), which is consistent with their fame worldwide in long-distance competition, especially in marathons, 5000m, and 10,000m. They are endurance royalty with 62 Olympic medals (24 gold, 15 silver, and 23 bronze) in sports. 

They contributed to Africa's podium appearance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, when they won four medals (0 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze), the first goldless year since 1991.

Famous Ethiopian Athletes:

• Kenenisa Bekele: Triple Olympic gold in 5000m/10,000m (2004 10,000m; 2008 double), multiple world records, and cross-country dominance.
• Haile Gebrselassie: Marathon icon with multiple world records, double Olympic 10,000m gold (1996, 2000), and four World Championship titles.
• Abebe Bikila: First African Olympic gold (marathon, barefoot in 1960), back-to-back champion (1964 Tokyo).
• Tirunesh Dibaba: Three-time Olympic gold (5000m/10,000m double in 2008, 10,000m in 2012), the youngest female world champion in athletics history.
• Derartu Tulu: First African woman to win Olympic gold (10,000m in 1992), repeated in 2000, inspiring female participation.

5. Morocco

Morocco's 186 African Championship medals (53 gold, 51 silver, and 82 bronze) show their prowess in hurdles, steeplechase, and middle-distance competitions ranging from 800 to 5000 meters. They have won noteworthy golds in endurance and hurdle events, contributing to their 21 Olympic medals in athletics (8 gold, 5 silver, and 8 bronze). 

Soufiane El Bakkali won one silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, bringing their total number of medals at the World Championships to 34 (12 gold, 13 silver, and 9 bronze).

Famous Moroccan Athletes:

• Hicham El Guerrouj: Double Olympic gold (1500m and 5000m, 2004) and 1500m world record holder (3:26.00).
• Nawal El Moutawakel: First African woman to win Olympic gold (400m hurdles, 1984).
• Said Aouita: Olympic gold in 5000m (1984), versatile middle-distance runner with multiple world records.
• Soufiane El Bakkali: Double Olympic gold in 3000m steeplechase (2021, 2024), two-time World champion (2022, 2023).
• Nezha Bidouane: Two-time World champion in 400m hurdles (1997, 2001), Olympic bronze (2000).

4. Algeria

Algeria's dominance in middle-distance running (800–1500m) and field sports like discus, javelin, and high jump can be seen by their 210 African Championship medals (80 gold, 56 silver, and 74 bronze). With nine Olympic medals, three gold, three silver, and three bronze, their record is still modest but legendary, and they have a long history of boxing. They added one silver medal (Djamel Sedjati, men's 800m, 1:41.90s) to their World Athletics Championships record of ten medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze) at the Tokyo 2025 competition.

Famous Algerian Athletes:

• Taoufik Makhloufi: Olympic gold (1500m, 2012), two silvers (800m/1500m, 2016), three-time World champion.
• Hassiba Boulmerka: First Algerian woman to win Olympic gold (1500m, 1992), World champion (1991, 1995), four-time African champion.
• Noureddine Morceli: Olympic gold (1500m, 1996), four-time World champion, former world record holder in 1500m/mile/3000m.
• Abderrahmane Hammad: Olympic silver (high jump, 2000), African record holder (2.37m), multiple continental medalist.
• Djamel Sedjati: Emerging 800m star, 2025 Worlds silver, African champion (2022, 2024), national record holder (1:41.45s).

3. Nigeria

Nigeria has established as a sprinting giant with 394 African Championship medals (165 gold, 131 silver, and 98 bronze), dominating relays, hurdles, and speed events, including the 100, 200, and 400 meters. They have won 38 medals in Olympic athletics (4 gold, 12 silver, and 22 bronze), with relays and hurdles being their strongest events; however, they are also excellent jumpers. 

Despite being behind Kenya in the African standings, Nigeria won two medals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, one gold and one bronze, with Tobi Amusan's victory in the 100-meter hurdles solidifying their reputation as a world sprint powerhouse. They led the host country with eight medals, including four golds, in the athletics competition at the 2023 African Games.

Famous Nigerian Athletes:

• Blessing Okagbare: Multi-event sprinter, Commonwealth golds (100m/200m, 2014), African champion, and Olympic long jump silver (2008).
• Sunday Uti: Key member of the 1984 Olympic bronze-winning 4x400m relay team, multiple African champion in 400m.
• Tobi Amusan: World record holder in 100m hurdles (12.12s, 2022), 2025 Worlds gold, three-time African Games champion.
• Ese Brume: Long jump world bronze (2022), Olympic bronze (2020), multiple African champion.
• Divine Oduduru: 200m specialist, African Games gold (2019), sub-10s 100m sprinter, Olympian (2016, 2020).

2. South Africa

With 395 African Championship medals (145 gold, 132 silver, and 118 bronze), South Africa excels in both genders' sprints, jumps, and throws. Although recent issues like injuries and finances have affected performances, their success has been bolstered by post-apartheid reintegration in 1992, which allowed full participation and produced stars in several disciplines, contributing to their 30 Olympic athletics medals (9 gold, 15 silver, and 6 bronze).

Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk, and Zakhiti Nene all helped South Africa win one bronze in the men's 4x400-meter relay at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (2:57.83).

Famous South African Athletes:

• Caster Semenya: Dominant 800m runner with two Olympic golds (2012, 2016) and three World titles (2009, 2011, 2017), known for her resilience amid controversies.
• Wayde van Niekerk: 400m world record holder (43.03s, 2016) and Olympic champion (2016), also a 200m specialist with multiple World medals.
• Luvo Manyonga: Long jump Olympic silver medalist (2016) and World champion (2017), with a personal best of 8.65m.
• Akani Simbine: 100m sprinter, Paris 2024 4x100m relay silver medalist, African record holder (9.84s), and consistent World finalist.
• Zola Budd: Historical middle-distance icon, known for barefoot running and 5000m world records in the 1980s, despite apartheid-era complications.

1. Kenya

Kenya is known for controlling long-distance events such as the 5000m, 10,000m, marathon, and steeplechase, and they have won 424 African Championship medals (159 gold, 141 silver, and 124 bronze). As of Paris 2024, they still hold the record for most track and field medals in Africa with 124 Olympic medals (39 gold, 44 silver, and 41 bronze). Kenya placed second overall with 11 medals (7 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Their female competitors excelled, taking home 6 of the 7 golds in events ranging from the 800m to the marathon.

Famous Kenyan Athletes:

• Eliud Kipchoge: Marathon legend with two Olympic golds (2016, 2020), multiple world records, and the sub-2-hour marathon milestone (2019 Berlin).
• Faith Kipyegon: Triple Olympic champion in the 1500m (2016, 2020, 2024), world record holder (3:49.04), and double World champion (2023).
• David Rudisha: 800m world record holder (1:40.91) and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2012), revolutionising middle-distance tactics.
• Vivian Cheruiyot: Four-time Olympic medalist (gold 5000m 2016, silvers 1500m 2012/2016), five-time World champion across distances.
• Beatrice Chebet: Double gold at 2025 Worlds (5000m/10,000m), Olympic 5000m champion (2024), emerging marathon sensation.

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