Several young African athletes had a spectacular track and field season in 2024, displaying the top athletes on the continent, but who stood out the most?
New stars have emerged in 2024, and some rising stars have elevated their sporting careers to unprecedented heights.
Several African athletes were among them, demonstrating the continent’s capacity to compete with the finest in the world.
African youth made headlines in 2024—from Letsile Tebogo, a sprint star from Botswana, to Emmanuel Wanyonyi, a Kenyan—and more is anticipated of them in 2025.
The five African youth athletes that dominated the 2024 track season are highlighted by Pulse Sports.
Letsile Tebogo
Botswana’s sprit sensation Letsile Tebogo has had an amazing season that started with a world record in 300m before culminating in Olympics gold over 200m, the first-ever for Africa.
He anchored his country to Olympics silver in 4x400m relay before going on to claim four Diamond League wins although he came short in the final where he finished second.
The 21-year-old showed great promise in 2023 with silver and bronze at the World Championships but finishes 2024 as a superstar, even admitting that he is not a free man in his country anymore thanks to his newfound fame and fortune.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi has demonstrated once more that, despite his early success in 2024, he was a serious player.
Similar to Tebogo, Wanyonyi made his debut on the international scene at the 2023 World Championships, but he finishes 2024 as the Olympic champion, Diamond League victor, and co-second fastest 800m runner in history.
The 20-year-old has had a rapid ascent and demonstrated a great deal of maturity for a young player by outwitting his opponents, particularly in the Diamond League final and the Olympics.
Faith Cherotich
Another Kenyan rising star is 20-year-old Faith Cherotich who bagged bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics in 3,000m steeplechase.
Cherotich has looked unfazed by the tough competition in the steeplechase, flooring her rivals with ease, and put the icing on the cake when she outwitted Winfred Yavi to win the Diamond League title in Brussels in September.
With world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech struggling in recent years, Cherotich looks like the woman to take over and at 20, Kenyans have a reason to be optimistic.
Muzala Samukonga
Following his historic 400-meter bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris, Muzala Samukonga, a sprinter from Zambia, was another name that lighted up the 2024 campaign.
In a time of 43.74 seconds, a new national record, he finished behind Americans Quincy Hall and Matthew Hudson-Smith, marking Zambia’s first Olympic medal in 28 years.
The 21-year-old placed third in the Diamond League final, and his accomplishments have inspired and raised Zambia’s national profile. They have also earned him an invitation to the lucrative Grand Slam Track, which will begin the following year.
Bayanda Walaza
Still only 18, South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza has already made history as he became the first athlete from his country to win an Olympics medal while still in high school.
Walaza was part of the South Africa quartet that won Olympics silver in 4x100m relay alongside Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine.
He was on the first leg of the race and showed great character and determination, contributing greatly to one of his country’s two Olympics silver medals from track and field.
