fbpx

8 African Olympians Who Could Add To Previous Medals

8 African Olympians Who Could Add To Previous Medals

1 of 9

The 2016 Rio Olympics see the return of a number of African Olympians who are looking to improve on or add to their previous performances at the summer games.

There is an elite group of African athletes and sportsmen and women who have managed to win medals in past Olympics, and who are now attempting to add to their personal medal tallies in Brazil this August.

We take a look at 8 Olympians from the African continent who could add to previous medals.

Source: TheDailyVox, SwimVortexTimes, InsideTheGames, NBCOlympics, BBCSport, IAAF, HuffingtonPost.

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

David Rudisha

The Kenyan middle-distance runner will defend his Olympic gold medal in the men’s 800m race at Rio 2016, as the world record holder in that particular event. His qualifying time was not impressive considering his potential, but he has the ability to deliver come the Olympics.

South African Medallists - South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh
SA swimmer Cameron van der Burgh is set for a medal shot – thomsonreuters.com

Cameron Van Der Burgh

Van der Burgh will be expected to feature amongst the South African swimming medallists in Rio, with his speciality breaststroke likely to see him competing for medals. He achieved gold at London 2012 in the 100m breaststroke, and he will feel confident that he can achieve a place on the podium in 2016.

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia
Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia – zimbio.com

Tirunesh Dibaba

The Ethiopian three-time Olympic gold medallist will be one of the contenders for the 10,000m race in Rio this year, and even though the competition is fierce amongst the African leading pack in the women’s event, Dibaba is one of the African Olympians who will be looking for a medal in Brazil.

Caster Semenya, South African 800m runner (Photo: thedailybeast.com)
Caster Semenya, South African 800m runner (Photo: thedailybeast.com)

Caster Semenya

The 800m silver medal winner at London 2012 will be aiming to go one better in Rio, earning herself the gold medal in her two-lap event. She has been in excellent form ahead of the games, and is set on achieving her dream of returning to South Africa with the gold medal around her neck.

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

Oussama Mellouli

The Tunisian will be competing in his fifth Olympic games in Rio this August, and this will give him a chance to defend the gold medal he won at London 2012. He earned gold in the men’s 10km open water race, and a bronze in the 1500m freestyle, securing his place amongst the list of successful African Olympians.

Swimmer Chad Le Clos
Swimmer Chad Le Clos will likely win a medal – timeslive.co.za

Chad Le Clos

The golden boy of South African swimming, Le Clos is expecting to return home from the 2016 Olympics with a medal or two. The butterfly specialist won a silver medal in the men’s 100m butterfly, and the gold in the men’s 200m butterfly, surprising the legendary Michael Phelps in that final.

SA kayaker Bridgitte Hartley
SA canoer Bridgitte Hartley is a gold medal hopeful – sascoc.co.za

Bridgitte Hartley

The canoeing sensation is expected to be amongst the potential medallists for South Africa in Rio. Hartley is going for gold in the women’s 500m sprint canoeing event, having won the bronze medal in the same event four years ago as one of the successful African Olympians at London 2012.

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

Taoufik Makhloufi

Algeria’s Makhloufi won gold in the men’s 1500m race at the London Olympics four years ago, and he is on course to defend his title in Rio, having qualified for the event. The North African will have a great deal of competition, but will hope that history repeats itself in Brazil.