South Africa’s Aiden Smith wins shot put gold in Accra, Ghana; Rwanda’s first African Championships 5,000m gold
African Athletics Championships 2026: South Africa’s Aiden Smith wins shot put gold on Day 1, Rwanda’s Emeline Imanizabayo claims shock 5,000m gold
African Athletics Championships 2026: South Africa’s Aiden Smith wins shot put gold on Day 1, Rwanda’s Emeline Imanizabayo claims shock 5,000m gold
Three gold medals were handed out on Day 1 of the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana. Find out the highlights of the day’s action.
South Africa’sAiden Smithcontinued his impressive start to the season by winning the first gold medal of theAfricanAthleticsChampionships 2026 in Accra, Ghana, while Rwanda’sEmeline Imanizayoproduced a surprise victory in the women’s 5,000m final on Day 1 of the competition.
The 21-year-old University of Johannesburg student threw 20.01 metres to secure victory ahead of Egypt’sMostafa Amr Ahmed, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist, who claimed silver with 18.89m. Cameroon’sBilly Jospen Takougoumtook bronze with a best effort of 17.01m.
The title marks Smith’s first African Championships gold and continues a strong run of form for the reigning World University Games champion.
Two weeks earlier, he threw 20.55m to win theBotswana Golden Grand Prixbefore producing 20.50m to finish third at the Simbine Classic in South Africa.
“I was hoping for a massive throw, but the conditions didn’t allow it,” Smith told Olympics.com after the event.
“I was aiming for 21m, but I’m still very happy with the win,” he added.
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Nora Atim Monie makes Cameroon history
Nigeriaemerged as the biggest winners in the women’s discus throw at the African Athletics Championships in Accra, securing both silver and bronze, while Cameroon’sNora Atim Monieclaimed a historic gold medal.
Competing in her first international outing for Nigeria,Divine Oladipoproduced a best throw of55.37mto take silver, ahead of compatriotObiageri Amaechi, who earned bronze with 53.23m.
The gold, however, went to Monie, whose fourth-round effort of57.00m secured Cameroon’s first-ever women’s discus titleat the African Championships.
It marked a strong comeback for the 29-year-old, who competed in both the discus throw and shot put at the previous edition on home soil without reaching the podium.
Accra also proved a positive venue for Monie, who had previously won African Games bronze at the same stadium in early 2024.
Imanizabayo (R) celebrates with Hassan (L)
Imanizabayo strikes gold in 5,000m
Rwanda’sEmeline Imanizabayo produced a dramatic late surge to win the women’s 5,000m title, edging a tightly packed finish in humid conditions.
Imanizayo stopped the clock at 23:25.92 to take gold, narrowly beating Djibouti’sSamia Hassan, who finished in 23:26.34. Ethiopia’sZeyen Ayelegncompleted the podium in 23:30.55.
The race was shaped by shifting lead changes in testing conditions, with Ayelegn and Imanizabyo both trading the front as the pace fluctuated. With about 250m remaining, Ayelegn launched a decisive kick, with her teammateBirtukan Molla Kesetealso surging before a late incident in the pack disrupted her challenge.
That left Ayelegn, Hassan and Imanizabayo in contention on the home straight, where the Rwandan found one final gear to edge ahead in the closing metres and secure victory.
It marks a first-ever African Championships gold in the women’s 5,000m for Rwanda, adding to a growing list of international successes for the 30-year-old, who also won the same event at the Dutch national championships earlier this season.
“I’m so happy, so overwhelmed by emotions,” Imanizabayo told Olympics.com.
“Before the competition, I told myself I was going to win this and I thank my coaches who helped me to achieve my dream,” she added.
Tobi Amusan cruised to the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles
Tobi Amusan cruises to 100m hurdles final
In the highlight of several heat events on Day 1, women’s 100m record holderTobi Amusan(12.82) ran the fastest time in the women’s 100m hurdles to win the heats and progress to Wednesday’s final.
She’s aiming for a third African title.
CounterpartFavour Asheran solo in the men’s 100m following a successful protest after initially being disqualified.
His time of 10.55 was good enough to secure him a place in Wednesday’s semi-finals.
There were no such troubles for Cameroon’sEmmanuel Eseme, Ghana’sAbdul-Rasheed SaminuandJoseph Paul Amoah,Bradley Nkoana (South Africa),who all sailed through to the men’s 100m semis.
The women and men’s 400m heats were filled with several athletes coming off the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, withMarlie Viljoen(South Africa),Justice OratileandLee Eppie(Botswana),Cheikh Tidiane Diouf,Abdou Aziz Ndiaye,Abou Adama Sané(Senegal) all securing the place in the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday (13 May).
Picture by 2025 Getty Images
31 October - 13 November
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