The last time an African won a medal in the men's 100m was during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games but the narrative might change following the cast that will head to Paris this season.
This might just be Africa’s time to shine in the sprints at the Paris Olympic Games, thanks to the hard work and commitment invested in building talents of athletes.
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, South Africa’s sprint king Akani Simbine and world 100m silver medallist Letsile Tebogo are the top three Africans entered for the men’s 100m in Paris.
The trio has shown consistency in their performance, doing so well on the global stage and this time around, the gold medal might be just be coming to Africa. Africa is yet to win a gold medal at the Olympics and only man who came close to that gold medal was Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks.
![Michael Johnson throws major challenge to Omanyala, Tebogo & Simbine ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/16042024/9cf90241-2d7b-4848-9d6d-f4329f32904b.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
06:13 - 11.07.2024
Michael Johnson throws major challenge to Omanyala, Tebogo & Simbine ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics
American legend Michael Johnson has thrown a challenge to African sprinters Ferdinand Omanyala, Letsile Tebogo and Akani Simbine to bring their ‘A’ game at the Paris Olympics.
Fredericks won two silver medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
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In the 100m, Tebogo opened his season at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, finishing second in the race before heading to the African Championships where he did not finish the race.
The world 200m bronze medallist then proceeded to the 4° Meeting della Leonessa where he won the race in the preliminaries but did not race in the final. The Botswanan wunderkind finished second behind Kishane Thompson at the Gyulai István Memorial, a Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix.
Omanyala, the Commonwealth Games champion has been in great shape after his setback at th Kip Keino Classic which came as a wakeup call. The 28-year-old then proceeded to the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, finishing second and then competed at the Racers Grand Prix where he completed the podium.
At the Olympic trials, Omanyala won the race before his recent exploits at the FBK Games in Hengelo.
On his part, Simbine has also shown consistency, opening his season at the South African Championships with a win.
![Is Kishane Thompson the man to beat in the 100m at Paris 2024 Olympic Games?](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/10072024/ebad6627-2374-4ddd-a4bb-dc98f69490cc.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
06:34 - 11.07.2024
Is Kishane Thompson the man to beat in the 100m at Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
Kishane Thompson has been consistent this season, posting sub-10 performances in all his races, and will certainly be lethal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
He then proceeded to a series of Diamond League Meetings, where he claimed top honours in Suzhou and Oslo. Simbine finished third at the Gyulai István Memorial. With such impeccable performances from the Africans, history might just be beckoning.