A complete of 27 international locations claimed gold medals in athletics on the Olympics, two greater than the earlier document
One of many largest takeaways from the Olympics is that so many countries had success in Paris.
Though the US dominated in athletics with 34 medals in whole – greater than the subsequent 5 international locations put collectively – 43 international locations have been represented on the desk, matching Tokyo as essentially the most within the sport for 20 years.
Botswana, Pakistan, Dominica and Saint Lucia obtained their first ever Olympic medals in athletics, taking the overall variety of international locations to 105 now.
Thea LaFond and Julien Alfred claimed their respective Olympic triple leap and 100m titles on the identical evening (August 3) and so they have been the primary gold medals that Dominica and Saint Lucia had received in any sport on the Video games.
Letsile Tebogo’s victory within the 200m secured Botswana’s maiden Olympic gold medal and Arshad Nadeem’s javelin win noticed Pakistan on the highest of an Olympic podium for the primary time since LA 1984.
The opposite notable point out is Ecuador, with Brian Pintando successful the 20km stroll after which partnering Glenda Morejón to silver within the blended marathon stroll relay. Pintando’s gold medal was the primary in athletics for his nation since Jefferson Pérez achieved the feat in the identical occasion at Atlanta 1996.
All in all, 75 international locations positioned inside the highest eight throughout all athletics occasions on the Olympics, showcasing the energy in depth of expertise within the sport.
Brian Pintando (Getty)
Julien Alfred stars for Saint Lucia
Julien Alfred’s win within the Olympic 100m last noticed the Saint Lucian create historical past as she claimed her nation’s first ever Olympic medal.
The truth that it was gold made it even sweeter. Alfred regarded supreme and untroubled in a moist Stade de France and ran a nationwide document of 10.72 to beat world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
Alfred eased by way of the rounds and clocked 10.95 and 10.84 in her warmth and semi-final.
When the beginning gun went off within the last, it was no shock to see the 23-year-old get out of the blocks and into her stride rapidly.
Alfred was untouchable when it mattered essentially the most and victory was by no means unsure, sparking wild celebrations on the island.
Just a few days later Alfred adopted up her 100m gold with silver within the 200m, ending behind Gabby Thomas with 22.08.
Julien Alfred for Saint Lucia (Getty)
Thea LaFond takes decisive win for Dominica
When Thea LaFond received the world indoor triple leap title again in March, she acknowledged afterwards that she wished “to be an inspiration for folks in my lovely nation within the Caribbean”.
If LaFond wasn’t already a family identify throughout Dominica from that victory in Glasgow then she undoubtedly would’ve been after Olympic gold in Paris.
The 30-year-old was simply one among 4 Dominican athletes on the Video games however stood on the highest of the Olympic podium.
LaFond recorded a better of 15.02m within the triple leap and that was greater than sufficient for the gold medal, with Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts coming closest with 14.87m.
Already a double Commonwealth medallist within the occasion, LaFond went into 2024 with excessive expectations however even this would possibly’ve been past her wildest goals.
Thea LaFond (Getty)
Letsile Tebogo’s breathtaking gold for Botswana
Botswana has a wealthy historical past on the Olympics and the nation made its debut at Moscow 1980.
Nijel Amos received Botswana’s first ever Olympic medal at London 2012, ending second to David Rudisha – who set the world 800m document of 1:40.91 – over two laps. Nonetheless, earlier than Paris 2024 the nation had by no means received gold.
That every one modified nevertheless when Letsile Tebogo blew everybody away within the 200m on the Stade de France, working 19.46 to take the gold medal.
Not solely was it the joint-ninth quickest time in historical past however Tebogo beat double world 200m champion Noah Lyles, who later revealed he ran the race with Covid.
Tebogo then returned to assist anchor Botswana to 4x400m silver behind the US.
The 21-year-old paid tribute to his mum, who sadly handed away again in Could, afterwards and acquired a heroes’ welcome on return to Botswana.
Letsile Tebogo (Getty)
Arshad Nadeem’s highly effective throw seals title for Pakistan
Whenever you consider Pakistan v India, your thoughts will immediately flip to cricket.
Nonetheless, on the Olympics the 2 nations battled it out within the javelin, with Arshad Nadeem going up in opposition to Neeraj Chopra for the largest prize within the sport.
Chopra, who was the reigning Olympic champion from Tokyo, went into Paris because the favorite however Nadeem had claimed the Commonwealth crown in 2022.
Chopra’s better of 89.45m was sufficient for the silver medal, which means that Nadeem received Pakistan’s first ever Olympic gold medal in athletics – their first in any sport since LA 1984.
Arshad Nadeem (Getty)
Ecuadorian excellence within the race walks
The final time a South American nation received the Olympic males’s 20km race stroll was at Atlanta 1996 when Ecuador’s Jefferson Pérez struck gold.
On the streets of the Parisian capital, Brian Pintado adopted within the footsteps of his compatriot Pérez and stood on the highest of the rostrum within the French capital.
Pintado recorded a time of 1:18:55 and beat Brazil’s Caio Bonfim by 14 seconds.
The Ecuadorian then teamed up with Glenda Morejón to assert silver within the marathon blended relay, ending behind the Spanish pair of Álvaro Martín and María Pérez.
With two medals for Ecuador at Paris 2024, the nation has now received 4 medals in athletics – the opposite being Pérez getting 20km race stroll silver at Beijing 2008 – of their historical past.
» Subscribe to AW journal right here