Africa grabbed a total of 40 medals in these Olympic Games. This is 5 more medals than in Sydney and Athens!
13 African countries reached the Olympic podium. It was the first ever Olympic medal for Mauritius, Sudan, Tunisia and Togo.

With 28 Olympic medals, Africa relied on its track and field athletes more than in all last Olympic Games. Ethiopia and Kenya shined as expected in the long and mid-distance races taking 19 medals. Bekele and Dibaba impressed the world getting Olympic long-distance double (5000m and 10000m)
Moreover, Africa reserved some good surprises in the jump contests (1gold medal in the triple jump, 2 silver and bronze ones in the long jump contests).

Apart from to athletics, judo offered three historic medals to our continent (2 Algeria, 1 Egypt).

Swimming did good results especially thanks to the Zimbabwean Kisty Conventry who was the African queen of the Beijing Watercube. She won 4 medals including the gold one in the 200m backstrocke. If the South African swimmers didn't take a medal as expected, the Tunisian Oussama Mellouli won the gold medal in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle winning ahead the Australian Grant Hackett, twice Olympic champion.

The Nigeria did not do it again... In 1996 the Supers Eagles had dominated the Argentines in the final. However yesterday Argentina took its revenge in the "bird nest" in Beijing winning 1-0.

Yet the match was more balanced that we cn expected. Under a strong heat, (nearly 35 °C without wind or shade) and a lawn in poor condition, Nigerians were impressive multiplying offensives.

But, taking advantage of a breakaway and a big mistake marking, Messi gave a long pass to Di Maria, who scored with a shot that Vanzekin could not stop (1-0, 58th). So, Nigerians intensified their offensives. Okonkwo, Adeleye, Kaita and Ajilore ran on the wings to offer many centres to Obinna and Odemnwingie who didn't catch the ball. If yes, the goalkeeper stopped them as at the 82nd on a new attempt from Anichebe. The Argentine defense became fragile but good enough to keep the score despite the 5 minutes of additional time.

On the Nigerian side, the silver medal was a disappointment, as a young nigerian supporter explained: "Everyone is slaughtered, because the Argentine team was the scope of ours".

After its victory in 2004 in Athens, Argentine team is the 4th team to get the Olympic double.

L'histoire Olympique a vécu d'extraordinaires exploits athlétiques et connu des émotions fortes au "Nid d'oiseau" de Pékin. L'athlétisme n'a jamais autant mérité son rang de premier sport Olympique.

Certes, l'extraterrestre du sprint, Bolt a étonné le monde en écrasant les 100 et 200m. A Pékin, il est devenu une légende. Et la Jamaïque, le pays de la vitesse.

Mais, l'Afrique a confirmé sa domination sur les courses de distances.
Les talentueux champions Ethiopiens - T.Dibaba et K. Békélé - , quatre fois médaillés d'or, trois records olympiques, ont encore démontré leurs exceptionnelles potentialités, leur maîtrise stratégique de la course, leur rage de vaincre. Pour "leur" Ethiopie, fière de perpétuer l'hégémonie d'un demi-siècle de souveraineté sur les distances longues.

Ethiopia's Bekele claims 2nd gold medal !!!
As her compatriot Dibaba, Bekele gets Olympic long-distance double.

Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia was masterful this evening in the men's 5,000-metre race crossing the line in 12:57.82.

Bekele took over from his teammates with 2 kilometers to impose an icredible pace. He won refreshing the 24-year-old Olympic record created by Morocco's Said Aouita at Los Angeles Games.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge took silver in a time of 13:02.80. Edwin Soi of Kenya won bronze in 13:06.22.

Holding the two World Records of these distances, Bekele showed the world he is the best runner of the long distance races.

Bekele became the seventh man in Olympic history to claim the double.

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, 23, who last week won the 10,000m crown, took the gold medal in the 5,000m this evening.

She becomes the first woman to win both long distance races at the same Games.

Holder of the world record, Dibaba took the lead at the end of the race. She sprinted to victory ahead defending World and Olympic champion, her compatriot Meseret Defar.
The last lap of Dibaba was incredible : she ran the last kilometer in 2.36. Nobody except an Ethiopian athlete has already made this performance.

Turkey's Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse claimed silver and Meseret Defar finished third.