Africa kicks off Rio Paralympics brilliantly with seven medals

Africa has started the 15th edition of Paralympics Games in Rio, Brazil remarkably well, bagging seven medals going into day two of the games. Kenya has clinched a gold and a bronze medal in the men's 5000m (T11) finals, and South Africa bagged a gold medal, while Algeria has so far clinched two gold and two silver medals in the shot put and judo events.

Africa has started the 2016, 15th edition of Paralympics Games in Rio, Brazil remarkably well, bagging seven medals going into day two of the games. Kenya’s clinched a gold and a bronze medal in the men’s 5000m (T11) finals event .

Samwel Mushai Kimani won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Games in the men’s 5000m T11 event for the visually impaired at the Olympic Stadium yesterday (8 September). Kimani powered home in a time of 15:16.11, with his team-mate Wilson Bil claiming the bronze medal.

Kevin Paul took South Africa to golden glory yesterday, winning the country’s first medal, taking gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke. The 25 year-old won the SB9 100-metre event in 1 min 04.86 sec to clinch  his second ever Paralympic gold medal.

Algeria has so far clinched two gold and two silver medals, bringing the continent’s medal haul to seven.  Algeria’s Bahlaz Lahouari won the silver medal in the men’s shot put (F3) event, and Saifi Nassima also collected silver, in the women’s shot put event (F56/57). Abdellaoui Cherine also did Algeria and the continent proud, claiming bronze in the women’s judo event (52 k), and Medjmedj Nadia clinched bronze in the women’s shot put event (F56/57).

It has certainly been a very successful opening day for African athletes, and we keep cheering the athletes who are representing the 43 African countries at the games.