Despite sending only two representatives, Tanzania secured a spot among the top 20 medal-winning nations, outshining several global athletics powerhouses.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has etched its name in global athletics history by finishing among the top 20 nations out of 198 countries that participated in the recently concluded World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
In addition to securing a spot in the top 20, Tanzania ranked third on the African continent, behind Kenya which led Africa with 11 medals, including seven golds, two silvers, and two bronzes and Botswana, which placed second in Africa and fifth globally with two golds and one bronze.
The East African nation, which fielded only two athletes in the event, stunned the athletics world by securing position 19 on the final medal table, thanks to Alphonce Simbu’s heroic victory in the men’s marathon.
Simbu clocked an impressive 2:09:48 to outpace 89 runners from different countries in one of the most fiercely contested races of the championships.
His triumph not only delivered a prestigious gold medal but also came with a $70,000 (approximately Sh173 million) cash prize.
Out of the 89 athletes who started the marathon, only 66 managed to finish, with Simbu’s compatriot, Josephat Gisemo, placing 53rd after clocking 2:22:47.
Beating global giants
What makes Tanzania’s performance extraordinary is the scale of competition. The championships drew 2,202 athletes from 198 countries, competing in 49 events.
Despite sending only two representatives, Tanzania secured a spot among the top 20 medal-winning nations, outshining several global athletics powerhouses.
According to the final standings released by World Athletics (WA), Tanzania surpassed nations such as Great Britain & Northern Ireland (67 athletes), China (88 athletes), Ethiopia (36 athletes), South Africa (49 athletes), Algeria (9 athletes), and Uganda (21 athletes). All these countries fielded significantly larger contingents but fell behind Tanzania in the medal tally.
For instance, Great Britain finished 21st overall with five medals (three silvers and two bronzes) but no gold. China, despite entering 88 athletes, secured only two silvers.
Ethiopia, a traditional marathon powerhouse with 36 competitors, managed just two silvers and two bronzes, placing them outside the top 20.
Similarly, South Africa, Algeria, and Uganda all failed to collect gold, highlighting the magnitude of Simbu’s achievement.
Standing tall among the elite
The final medal table crowned the United States as overall champions with a dominant 16 gold, five silver, and five bronze medals (26 in total).
Kenya followed with seven golds and 11 total medals, reaffirming their distance running supremacy. Canada, the Netherlands, and Botswana rounded up the top five.
In this competitive field, Tanzania’s single gold placed it in the company of established athletics nations such as France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Cuba, and Brazil.
Countries like Germany, Italy, Jamaica, and Spain – with larger delegations and multiple medals – found themselves only a few places above Tanzania.
Tanzania’s rise to 19th position not only reflects the brilliance of Simbu but also underlines the country’s potential to excel at the highest level with proper investment and preparation.
A historic moment for Tanzania
For Tanzania, this is more than just a medal, it is a historic breakthrough. It marks the first time the country has broken into the top 20 of the World Athletics Championships medal table, sending a strong message that with the right focus, even small delegations can achieve big results.
