Tokyo 2020: Meet Your Black Medalists
The Sub-Saharan African diaspora extends to many nations and the Olympics is another opportunity to be proud.
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was held from July 23, 2021 through August 8, 2021. Participation in The Olympic Games and the pursuit of a medal (gold, silver, or bronze) bring national pride for many.
The Medal Haul
Athletes compete to for a myriad of reasons, but there is no direct financial payout from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Instead, many well known athletes have sponsorships and partnerships that may cover the cost of their training and team dedicated to their athletic pursuits. For winners, some governments provide bonuses to Olympians that medal. For example, a Gold medal earns a Singaporean just over $700K, an Italian over $200K, an American $37.5K, and an Australia $15K (all prices in USD). Silver and Bronze medals have lower payouts.
Across the games in Tokyo there were 339 events in 33 sports (for a total of 50 disciplines). Countries sent delegations in the hundreds from places like the United States (613), Australia (477) and France (385), while some countries sent large numbers of athletes compared to their actual population (e.g. Jamaica’s delegation of 50). In total, 1080 medals (where team wins count as 1) were awarded. The distribution of medals can be plotted against a number of variables, but often population size and GDP are strong indicators of overall country “success” in medal totals.1
Organized by Population
Organized by GDP
Organized by Gold Medals
Organized by Total Medals
Rooting for Everybody Black
Because it is not possible that every Olympian you care about will receive a meaningful sum, I wanted to showcase who they are in the hopes your support by following on social media may eventually lead to greater opportunities for future sponsorship and reach. As a Black person from the United States, I don’t simply think solely of American Olympian. Here’s why:
“The Olympics are always framed as a chance to root for your home team, as medal counts keep track of which countries are leading in hardware, or news coverage drives the competition narrative between major world powers. But for many people of color, the Games are also a way to show solidarity — not around nations — but around race and ethnicity. To root for the diaspora is to acknowledge all the ways people of color have been affected by white supremacy — and to celebrate and cheer on the athletes who are able to break through those barriers.”
“Black audiences watching the Olympics are “rooting for a commonality of struggle,” particularly for people of African descent. “Oftentimes, seeing people with a shared struggle, a shared kinship, those are the people that we connect with because we’re rooting for them. Because rooting for them is also rooting for us, for our history,” — PBS, Why people of color look past medal counts when rooting for Olympians
I compiled the list below of Tokyo medalists from Sub-Saharan countries on the African continent as well as diaspora countries where athletes are generally considered Black (or visible and vocal members of the Sub-Saharan African diaspora). In instances where it was unclear, I searched for articles that referenced their parents, ties to a Black country, or their affirmation of identity. For example, several athletes from Latin America proudly identify as Afro-Latino and some from Europe as Black.
“We are Black, what do you mean ‘of color?’, they are the ones ‘of color,’ they change color more than the sun.” Spain’s Ana Peleteiro as quoted via AP News, Black athletes defend Spanish roots after winning in Tokyo.
A Quick Note & Request
Given the large number of athletes, especially in team competitions, and translating web articles to determine self-identification this list will be a running list (subject to updating). My goal is to showcase the diversity of Black athletes across many disciplines and countries of origin. Lack of inclusion is not malicious and was intended to have a post of Black excellence before the Olympic spirit and momentum moved on!
[Obsidian Futures is a one-person operation. If you find this recap useful, please consider showing your gratitude with a cup of coffee.]
The list below is organized by sport, event, and medal outcome. Instagram handles are included so you can continue to support these wonderful Black athletes beyond the Tokyo Games.
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Diving
Fencing
Football (Soccer)
Gymnastics
Judo
Rugby
Softball
Swimming
Taekwondo
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling
Baseball
Edward Jackson, Jamie Westbrook & Simeon Woods.
United States, Silver Medal, Men’s Team
Basketball
Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Jrue Holiday, JaVale McGee, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Jerami Grant, Keldon Johnson, Zach LaVine & Khris Middleton.
United States, Gold Medal, Men’s Team
Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Ariel Atkins, Skylar Diggins-Smith & Jewell Loyd.
United States, Gold Medal Women’s Team
Allisha Gray & Jackie Young.
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s 3 x 3:
Boxing
Duke Ragan
United States, Silver Medal, Featherweight
Samuel Takyi
Ghana, Bronze Medal, Featherweight
Keyshawn Davis
United States, Silver Medal, Lightweight
Benjamin Whittaker
Great Britain, Silver Medal, Light-heavyweight
Frazer Clarke
Great Britain, Bronze Medal, Super-heavyweight
Fencing
Enzo Lefort
France, Gold Medal, Men’s Team Foil
Anita Blaze
France, Silver Medal, Women’s Team Foil
Ysaora Thibus
France, Silver Medal, Women’s Team Foil
Football (Soccer)
Crystal Dunn
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s Football (Soccer)
Adrianna Franch
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s Football (Soccer)
Casey Krueger
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s Football (Soccer)
Lynn Williams
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s Football (Soccer)
Gymnastics
Jordan Chiles
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s Team All-Around
Simone Biles
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s Team All-Around; Bronze Medal, Balance Beam
Judo
Teddy Riner
France, Bronze Medal, Men’s Heavyweight; Gold Medal, Mixed Team Event
Sarah-Leonie Cysique
France, Silver Medal, Women’s Lightweight; Gold Medal, Mixed Team Event
Clarisse Agbegnenou
France, Gold Medal, Women’s Half-Middleweight; Gold Medal, Mixed Team Event
Madeleine Malonga
France, Silver Medal, Women’s Half-Heavyweight; Gold Medal, Mixed Team Event
Romane Dicko
France, Bronze Medal, Women’s Heavyweight; Gold Medal, Mixed Team Event
Rugby
Anne-Cecile Ciofani & Seraphine Okemba
France, Silver Medal, Women’s 7s
Softball
Michelle Moultrie & Kelsey Stewart.
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s Team
Swimming & Diving
Jennifer Abel
Canada, Silver Medal, Synchronized 3M
Simone Manuel
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Taekwondo
Althea Laurin
France, Bronze Medal, Women’s Heavyweight
Track & Field
Marcell Jacobs
Italy, Gold Medal, Men’s 100m; Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Fred Kerley
United States, Silver Medal, Men’s 100m
Andre De Grasse
Canada, Bronze Medal, Men’s 100m; Gold Medal, Men’s 200m; Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Kenny Bednarek
United States, Silver Medal, Men’s 200m
Noah Lyles
United States, Bronze Medal, Men’s 200m
Steven Gardiner
Bahamas, Gold Medal, Men’s 400m
Anthony Zambrano
Colombia, Silver Medal, Men’s 400m
Kirani James
Grenada, Bronze Medal, Men’s 400m
Emmanuel Korir
Kenya, Gold Medal, Men’s 800m
Ferguson Rotich (IG)
Kenya, Silver Medal, Men’s 800m
Timothy Cheruiyot
Kenya, Silver Medal, Men’s 1,500m
Joshua Cheptegui
Uganda, Gold Medal, Men’s 5,000m; Silver Medal, Men’s 10,000m
Mohammed Ahmed
Canada, Silver Medal, Men’s 5,000m
Paul Chelimo
United States, Bronze Medal, Men’s 5000m
Selemon Barega
Ethiopia, Gold Medal, Men’s 10,000m
Jacob Kiplimo
Uganda, Silver Medal, Men’s 10,000m
Hansle Parchment
Jamaica, Gold Medal, Men’s 110m Hurdle
Grant Holloway
United States, Silver Medal, Men’s 110m Hurdle
Ronald Levy
Jamaica, Silver Medal, Men’s 110m Hurdle
Rai Benjamini
United States, Silver Medal, Men’s 400m Hurdle; Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Lamecha Girma
Ethiopia, Silver Medal, Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase
Benjamin Kigen (IG)
Kenya, Silver Medal, Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase
Eliud Kipchoge
Kenya, Gold Medal, Men’s Marathon
Abdi Nageeye
Netherlands, Silver Medal, Men’s Marathon
Bashir Abdi
Belgium, Bronze Medal, Men’s Marathon
Mutaz Essa
Qatar, Gold Medal, Men’s High Jump
Pedro Pichardo
Portugal, Gold Medal, Men’s Triple Jump
Hugues Fabrice Zango
Burkina Faso, Bronze Medal, Men’s Triple Jump
Damian Warner
Canada, Gold Medal, Men’s Decathlon
Eseosa “Fausto” Desalu
Italy, Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Chijindu Ujah
Great Britain, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Zharnel Hughes
Great Britain, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake
Great Britain, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Aaron Brown
Canada, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Jerome Blake
Canada, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Brendon Rodney
Canada, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 100m Relay
Michael Cherry
United States, Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Michael Norman
United States, Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Bryce Deadmon
United States, Gold Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Liemarvin Bonevacia
Netherlands, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Terrence Agard
Netherlands, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Ramsey Angela
Netherlands, Silver Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Isaac Makwala
Botswana, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Baboloki Thebe
Botswana, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Zibane Ngozi
Botswana, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Bayapo Ndori
Botswana, Bronze Medal, Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
Elaine Thompson-Herah
Jamaica, Gold Medal, Women’s 100m; Gold Medal, Women’s 200m; Gold Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Jamaica, Silver Medal, Women’s 100m; Gold Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Shericka Jackson
Jamaica, Bronze Medal, Women’s 100m; Bronze Medal, 4 x 400m Relay; Gold Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Christine Mboma
Namibia, Silver Medal, Women’s 200m
Gabrielle Thomas
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s 200m; Silver Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Shaunae Miller-Uibo
Bahamas, Gold Medal, Women’s 400m
Allyson Felix
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s 400m; Gold Medal, 4 x 400m Relay
Athing Mu
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s 800m; Gold Medal, 4 x 400m Relay
Raevyn Rogers
United States, Bronze Medal, Women’s 800m
Faith Kipyegon
Kenya, Gold Medal, Women’s 1500m
Sifan Hassan
Netherlands, Bronze Medal, Women’s 1500m; Gold Medal, 5,000m; Gold Medal, 10,000m
Hellen Obiri
Kenya, Silver Medal, Women’s 5,000m
Gudaf Tsegay
Ethiopia, Bronze Medal, Women’s 5,000m
Kalkidan Gezahegne
Bahrain, Silver Medal, Women’s 10,000m
Letesenbet Gidey
Kenya, Bronze Medal, Women’s 10,000m
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Puerto Rico, Gold Medal, Women’s 100m Hurdles
Kendra Harrison
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s 100m Hurdles
Megan Tapper
Jamaica, Bronze Medal, Women’s 100m Hurdles
Sydney McLaughlin
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s 400m Hurdles; Gold Medal, 4 x 400m Relay
Dalilah Muhammad
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s 400m Hurdles; Gold Medal, 4 x 400m Relay
Peruth Chemutai
Uganda, Gold Medal, Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase
Hyvin Jepkemoi
Kenya, Bronze Medal, Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase
Peres Jepchirchir
Kenya, Gold Medal, Women’s Marathon
Brigid Kosgei
Kenya, Silver Medal, Women’s Marathon
Malaika Mihambo
Germany, Gold Medal, Women’s Long Jump
Brittney Reese
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s Long Jump
Ese Brume
Nigeria, Bronze Medal, Women’s Long Jump
Yulimar Rojas
Venezuela, Gold Medal, Women’s Triple Jump
Patricia Mamona
Portugal, Silver Medal, Women’s Triple Jump
Ana Peleteiro
Spain, Bronze Medal, Women’s Triple Jump
Raven Saunders
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s Shot Put
Nafissatou Thiam
Belgium, Bronze Medal, Women’s Heptathlon
Briana Williams
Jamaica, Gold Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Javianne Oliver
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Teahna Daniels
United States, Silver Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Asha Philip
Great Britain, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Imani-Lara Lansiquot
Great Britain, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Dina Asher-Smith
Great Britain, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Daryll Neita
Great Britain, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 100m Relay
Roneisha McGregor
Jamaica, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 400m Relay
Janieve Russell
Jamaica, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 400m Relay
Candice McLeod
Jamaica, Bronze Medal, Women’s 4 x 400m Relay
Volleyball
Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Haleigh Washington, Jordan Thompson & Chiaka Ogbogu.
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s Team
Water Polo
Ashleigh Johnson
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s Team
Wrestling
Gable Steveson
United States, Gold Medal, Men’s Freestyle 125kg
Tamyra Mensah-Stock
United States, Gold Medal, Women’s Freestyle 68kg
Blessing Oborududu
Nigeria, Silver Medal, Women’s Freestyle 68kg
[Obsidian Futures is a one-person operation. If you find this recap useful, please consider showing your gratitude with a cup of coffee. Comments have been turned off for this article, but feel free to reach out via Instagram at @ObsidianFutures.]
GDP and Population sourced from Data Commons