Dakar 2026 - Africa's impact on the Olympics, key Olympians, and top Games moments from across the continent


From Abebe Bikila to Letsile Tebogo, African athletes have made history at the Olympics. Relive some of the greatest sporting moments from the continent ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

As Africa prepares to welcome the world for its first Olympic event next year at Dakar 2026, it’s an opportune moment to look back on the continent's rich history at the Games.

From Abebe Bikila running barefoot at Rome 1960 to him becoming the first man to win back-to-back marathon golds, how Nigeria defied the odds to claim the men’s football title at Atlanta 1996, Nawal El Moutawakel leading the way with a historic women's 400m hurdles gold, to most recently at Paris 2024,Letsile Tebogo’s historic 200m title, we relive some of the great moments in Africa’s Olympic history.

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