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10 African Nations That Won Medals At The 2012 Olympics

10 African Nations That Won Medals At The 2012 Olympics

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With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games set to take place in Rio this year, it is interesting to look back at the previous edition of the multi-sport competition to see how African countries performed at the 2012 Olympics in terms of their medal hauls.

The Olympic flame was officially lit in Greece on Friday, April 22, and with that the famous torch will travel from Athens throughout the world until it reaches its final destination in Brazil.

To honour the lighting of the famous and inspirational flame, we take a look at the 10 African nations that earned medals during the 2012 Olympics in London.

Sources: TheDailyMail, TheTelegraph, BBC, Olympic.Org, Bloomberg, Afrographique.

South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh
South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh – blog.thomsonreuters.com

South Africa – 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze

South Africa emerged from the London 2012 Olympics as the most successful African nation, having completed a haul of three gold, two silver and one bronze medal. Two of the medals were for swimming, including a gold for Cameron van der Burgh in the 100m breaststroke.

A proud Nijel Amos wins silver for Botswana
A proud Nijel Amos wins silver for Botswana – bbc.com

Botswana – 1 Silver

At the 2012 Olympics event Botswana were able to claim a silver medal, thanks to the efforts of middle-distance runner Nijel Amos. The 22-year-old, who was only 18 at the time, managed to earn a first even medal for his country in the 800m men’s final, finishing second.

Kenyan Athlete David Rudisha
Kenyan Athlete David Rudisha – (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Kenya – 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze

The 2012 Olympics saw Kenya’s largest ever delegation travel to the games, and they did not disappoint, returning with two golds, four silver and five bronze medals. These included David Rudisha’s world record in the 800m men’s race, and a Ezekiel Kemboi’s gold in the men’s steeplechase. This made Kenya the most successful African country at the games by overall number of medals.

Anthony Obame of Gabon wins silver medal
Anthony Obame of Gabon wins silver medal – metro.co.uk

Gabon – 1 Silver

Gabon earned their first ever Olympic medal at the 2012 games in London thanks to Taekwondo fighter Anthony Obame silver in the final of the men’s heavyweight over-80kgs. Obame lost to Italian Carlo Molfetta in the final, but it was a proud moment for the fighter and his West African nation, as they claimed a maiden Olympic medal.

Stephen Kiprotich earns the gold for Uganda
Stephen Kiprotich earns the gold for Uganda – theaustralian.com.au

Uganda – 1 Gold

Athletics produced a gold medal for Uganda at the 2012 Summer Olympics that were held in London, with Stephen Kiprotich earning his country’s second gold medal in Olympic history with a stunning victory in the men’s marathon. At the time the athlete admitted that he expected one of the Kenyan runners to take the gold, but he managed to surprise even himself.

Olympic Gold Medal
Olympic Gold Medal – alphamom.com

Ethiopia – 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze

Ethiopia’s women produced amazing performances in 2012 to secure the country a flurry of medals. Tirunesh Dibaba defended her Olympic title in the women’s 10,000 metres event, taking gold. Meseret Defar took the gold medal in the women’s 5,000 metres event, with Dibaba claiming the bronze medal in that race. Tiki Gelana won the women’s marathon, ensuring that both the men’s and women’s marathon winners were African.

Egypt's Alaaeldin Abouelkassem: the first African fencer to win a medal
Egypt’s Alaaeldin Abouelkassem: the first African fencer to win a medal – alchetron.com

Egypt – 2 Silver

With one of the largest group of athletes in Egyptian history, the country would have been proud to have two silver medals earned in 2012. Alaaeldin Abouelkassem was the runner-up in the men’s foil, making him the first African fencer to win an Olympic medal, while Karam Gaber lost in the final of the Men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling, taking home a silver medal.

Oussama Mellouli is a Tunisian swimming champion
Oussama Mellouli is a Tunisian swimming champion – Claude Grunitzky

Tunisia – 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

A delegation of 83 Tunisian athletes made the trip to London for the 2012 Olympics, and they returned home with three medals to their name in the disciplines of swimming and athletics. Oussama Mellouli earned the gold for his win in the Men’s 10km open water race, and a bronze in the 1500m freestyle. Habiba Ghribi rounded up the medals with a silver in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase.

Taoufik Makhloufi wins gold for Algeria
Taoufik Makhloufi wins gold for Algeria – zimbio.com

Algeria – 1 Gold

Gold medalist Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria beat silver medalist Leonel Manzano of the United States and Moroccan bronze medalist Abdalaati Iguider in the Men’s 1500m race on Day 12 of the London Olympics to secure a gold medal for his North African nation.

Bronze medalist Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco
Bronze medalist Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco – gettyimages.com

Morocco – 1 Bronze

Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco earned a bronze medal for his efforts in the Men’s 1500m final, providing his country with their only medal of the Olympics with his performance in the athletics discipline.