The Ethiopian delegation that participated in the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris has returned home to a warm welcome.
After 17 days of intense competition, the Paris Olympics concluded on the evening of August 11, 2024.
The Ethiopian athletes who won medals and represented the nation with pride arrived in Addis Ababa this morning, August 13, 2024.
Upon their arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the delegation was greeted by enthusiastic supporters and officials.
In recognition of their achievements, a special honor ceremony and dinner program will be held this afternoon at the National Palace.
President Sahle-Work Zewde will preside over the event, which will celebrate the athletes’ contributions to Ethiopia’s Olympic legacy.
At the 33rd Paris Olympics, Ethiopia secured a total of four medals: one gold and three silver. This achievement placed Ethiopia 47th in the overall medal standings and 4th among African nations.
Tamirat Tola delivered a standout performance by winning the only gold medal in the men’s marathon, finishing with a time of 2:06:26.
His victory set a new Olympic record for the marathon, further solidifying his status as one of the world’s elite long-distance runners.
Additionally, Tsige Dguma earned a silver medal in the women’s 800m, Berihu Aregawi took silver in the men’s 10,000m, and Tigist Assefa secured a silver medal in the women’s marathon.
The 2024 Olympics also saw remarkable performances from other African athletes. Botswana celebrated its first-ever Olympic gold medal, thanks to Letsile Tebogo’s victory in the men’s 200m.
Algeria made history with Kaylia Nemour winning the country’s first Olympic gold in artistic gymnastics, a milestone not just for Algeria but for the entire continent.
The South Sudan men’s basketball team also made headlines by defeating Puerto Rico 90-78 in their opening game, showcasing Africa’s potential beyond traditional athletics.
Despite strong performances, only 12 of Africa’s 54 countries managed to secure a place on the medal table at the 33rd Olympics.
Kenya emerged as Africa’s top performer, finishing 17th in the world with four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.
Ethiopia, with its long Olympic history dating back to its debut in Melbourne in 1956, finished 4th among African nations, behind Kenya, Algeria, and South Africa. Over the years, Ethiopia has accumulated a total of 62 Olympic medals.
Paris Olympics featured more than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries and concluded with the United States leading the medal table.
The U.S. claimed 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze medals, tying with China for the number of gold medals but topping the overall count.
The U.S. has now dominated the last seven Olympic Games, continuing a legacy of success that dates back to the first modern Olympics in 1896.
France, the host nation of this year’s games, finished in fifth place, behind Japan and Australia.
In total, 91 countries secured medals across 32 sports at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the global nature of the event.
