Thirteen African nations won medals, some for the very first time, while the Games also produced new heroes and enhanced the status of more seasoned stars. Eliud Kipchoge now has two gold medals as well as the world record in the marathon
Eliud Kipchoge's victory on the last day of the Olympics had the sport's governing body, World Athletics, labelling him 'King-Choge' as the Kenyan surely cemented his place as the greatest marathon runner of all time. Not only is he the only man to have run the distance in under two hours (in assisted conditions), but the world record holder became the third man to successfully defend an Olympic marathon title - and first in over four decades.
In an athletics programme illuminated by some record-breaking performances, the 36-year-old's run in hot and humid conditions in Sapporo epitomised the stamina that make distance runners so revered. Ahmed Hafnaoui was both stunned, and elated, to win gold Young athletes made their mark for Africa at these Games, with the continent's first gold medal in Tokyo delivered by an 18-year-old.
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