![<strong>Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya: </strong>The 36-year-old marathoner is considered among the "<a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2021/08/08/sport/eliud-kipchoge-olympic-marathon-spt-intl/index.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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172602-01-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2129,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<strong>Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya:</strong> Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan took gold in the women's marathon with a time of <a target="_blank" target="_blank">2:27:20</a>, just ahead of teammate and world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who took the silver medal.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172824-05-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2000,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172635-02-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_1914,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172715-03-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_1959,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172902-07-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2000,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172802-04-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2000,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<strong>Uche Eke, Nigeria: </strong>The young athlete became the <a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2021/07/27/sport/uche-eke-nigeria-olympics-spc-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank">first</a> gymnast to qualify and compete for Nigeria at the Olympics.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810172916-08-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2020,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Uche Eke, Nigeria: The young athlete became the first gymnast to qualify and compete for Nigeria at the Olympics.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810173056-09-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_2007,h_1120,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810173133-10-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2000,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<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 target="_blank" target="_blank">2012</a>.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810173157-11-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3010,h_2007,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.
![<strong>Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco:</strong> Morocco made history with its <a 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.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/210810173229-12-africa-olypmics-history-tokyo-2020.jpg?q=w_3000,h_1922,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
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.