These African athletes made history at Tokyo 2020 | CNN

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These African athletes made history at Tokyo 2020

Published 6:11 AM EDT, Thu August 12, 2021
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<strong>Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya: </strong>The 36-year-old marathoner is considered among the "<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2021%2F08%2F08%2Fsport%2Feliud-kipchoge-olympic-marathon-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">greatest of all time</a>," and Kipchoge showed it once again at the Tokyo Olympics, winning gold in the men's marathon. That's back-to-back wins for the Kenyan superstar, making him only the third man ever to defend his gold medal in this event.
Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya: The 36-year-old marathoner is considered among the "greatest of all time," and Kipchoge showed it once again at the Tokyo Olympics, winning gold in the men's marathon. That's back-to-back wins for the Kenyan superstar, making him only the third man ever to defend his gold medal in this event.
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
<strong>Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya:</strong> Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan took gold in the women's marathon with a time of <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Folympics.com%2Ftokyo-2020%2Folympic-games%2Fen%2Fresults%2Fathletics%2Fresult-women-s-marathon-fnl-000100-.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">2:27:20</a>, just ahead of teammate and world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who took the silver medal.
Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya: Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan took gold in the women's marathon with a time of 2:27:20, just ahead of teammate and world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who took the silver medal.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
<strong>Peruth Chemutai, Uganda: </strong>On the track inside Tokyo's National Stadium, Chemutai entered the record books for Uganda in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase by becoming the first woman to win gold for her country in any sport.
Peruth Chemutai, Uganda: On the track inside Tokyo's National Stadium, Chemutai entered the record books for Uganda in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase by becoming the first woman to win gold for her country in any sport.
Kyodo via AP Images
<strong>Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda:</strong> More history for Uganda came from world record-holder Cheptegei, who won gold in the men's 5,000m and silver in the men's 10,000m -- becoming the first Ugandan to win two Olympic medals at the same Games.
Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda: More history for Uganda came from world record-holder Cheptegei, who won gold in the men's 5,000m and silver in the men's 10,000m -- becoming the first Ugandan to win two Olympic medals at the same Games.
Charlie Riedel/AP
<strong>Feryal Abdelaziz, Egypt: </strong>In the women's +61kg karate kumite event, which made its debut at Tokyo 2020, Abdelaziz (left) became the first woman from Egypt to win a gold medal for her country.
Feryal Abdelaziz, Egypt: In the women's +61kg karate kumite event, which made its debut at Tokyo 2020, Abdelaziz (left) became the first woman from Egypt to win a gold medal for her country.
Vincent Thian/AP
<strong>Faith Kipyegon, Kenya:</strong> Kenya celebrated more record-breaking success on the track when Kipyegon defended her gold medal in the women's 1,500m, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
Faith Kipyegon, Kenya: Kenya celebrated more record-breaking success on the track when Kipyegon defended her gold medal in the women's 1,500m, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Uche Eke, Nigeria: </strong>The young athlete became the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2021%2F07%2F27%2Fsport%2Fuche-eke-nigeria-olympics-spc-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">first</a> gymnast to qualify and compete for Nigeria at the Olympics.
Uche Eke, Nigeria: The young athlete became the first gymnast to qualify and compete for Nigeria at the Olympics.
Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images
<strong>Tatjana Schoenmaker, South Africa: </strong>A bright spot for South Africa in Tokyo was Schoenmaker, who won swimming gold in the women's 200m breaststroke by setting a world record. She also took the silver medal in the women's 100m breaststroke.
Tatjana Schoenmaker, South Africa: A bright spot for South Africa in Tokyo was Schoenmaker, who won swimming gold in the women's 200m breaststroke by setting a world record. She also took the silver medal in the women's 100m breaststroke.
Carl Recine/Reuters
<strong>Selemon Barega, Ethiopia:</strong> Crossing the finish line ahead of Ugandans Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, Barega captured the gold medal in the men's 10,000 meters.
Selemon Barega, Ethiopia: Crossing the finish line ahead of Ugandans Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, Barega captured the gold medal in the men's 10,000 meters.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
<strong>Ahmed Hafnaoui, Tunisia: </strong>In men's swimming, a teenager shocked the field when 18-year-old Halnaoui took gold in the men's 400m freestyle -- the first swimming medal for Tunisia since <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Ftokyo-olympics-live-updates%2F2021%2F07%2F25%2F1020309605%2Ftunisian-ahmad-hafnaoui-swimming-olympic-gold-tokyo-medal" target="_blank" target="_blank">2012</a>.
Ahmed Hafnaoui, Tunisia: In men's swimming, a teenager shocked the field when 18-year-old Halnaoui took gold in the men's 400m freestyle -- the first swimming medal for Tunisia since 2012.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
<strong>Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco:</strong> Morocco made history with its <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Folympics.com%2Ftokyo-2020%2Folympic-games%2Fen%2Fresults%2Fall-sports%2Fnoc-profile-morocco.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">first</a> gold in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, when El Bakkali topped an all-Africa podium ahead of Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma (left) who took silver and Kenya's Benjamin Kigen (right) with the bronze.
Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco: Morocco made history with its first gold in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, when El Bakkali topped an all-Africa podium ahead of Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma (left) who took silver and Kenya's Benjamin Kigen (right) with the bronze.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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