‘Our best wrestlers compete for other countries’: Kalkaba Malboum after Cameroon’s poor Olympics performance

After Cameroon’s disappointing performance at the just-ended Paris Olympic games, the head of the Olympics Committee, Kalkaba Malboum, says most of the country’s stars now compete for other nations.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games concluded on Sunday, with many countries proudly taking home medals, while others, including Cameroon, left empty-handed.

During an interview with Canal+, Malboum offered insight into why Cameroon, which was represented by six athletes, did not win any medals at the games.

“I am not happy with the results, but this is the nature of sports—you can either be victorious or not,” he said.

“Some of our performances were good, like our sprinter. We have talent in the country, but we must consider the spirit, environment, and timing of the competition.

“The best of our wrestlers and weightlifters have left Cameroon and are now competing for other countries around the world,” Kalkaba Malboum explained.

The Paris 2024 Olympics saw approximately 10,500 athletes from 203 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competing across 32 sports in 329 events from July 26 to August 11.

African countries had several medal-winning moments during these Olympic Games.

South Africa won the continent’s first medal on day one in rugby sevens, claiming bronze in the men’s competition with a victory over Australia.

Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour made history by becoming the first African gymnast to win an Olympic medal, taking gold in the uneven bars event.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei also set an Olympic record and became the first Ugandan to win two Olympic gold medals in any sport.

In swimming, South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker ended her Olympic career with a gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke and a silver in the 200m breaststroke.

Egypt and Tunisia also secured medals in fencing, with Mahmoud Elsayad winning bronze in the men’s epee individual and Fares Ferjani taking silver in the men’s sabre individual.

Cape Verde’s David De Pina earned his country’s first Olympic medal, a bronze in boxing, while Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma won her first-ever Olympic silver medal in the women’s 800 meters.

African teams also made their mark in football, with an all-African bronze-medal match between Morocco and Egypt, ensuring one of the nations will secure their first Olympic medal in football.

Despite strong participation, African countries continue to face challenges in securing Olympic medals, and the continent has yet to host the prestigious event.

Overall, the United States topped the medal table, winning 40 gold medals and a total of 126, ahead of China, which claimed 91 medals, including 24 bronze.

Among the 15 African countries that sent athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympics, twelve won medals. Kenya led the continent with 11 medals: 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze. South Africa followed with 6 medals: 1 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. Ethiopia secured 4 medals: 1 gold and 3 silver.

However, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana returned home without any medals.

©Mimi Mefo Info