ACCRA, Ghana β The African Athletics Championships 2026 opened on May 13 in Accra, Ghana, with South Africa's Aiden Smith winning the first gold medal of the event in the men's shot put. Smith, who has been in strong form this season, secured the victory with a throw of 21.45 meters, according to results verified by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).
In a surprise result, Rwanda's Emeline Imanizabayo claimed gold in the women's 5,000 meters, finishing in 15:12.34. The 22-year-old outpaced favorites from Kenya and Ethiopia, marking Rwanda's first gold medal in the event at these championships.
Day 1 also featured strong performances in the men's 100 meters heats, with Nigeria's Tobi Amusan and Ghana's Benjamin Azamati advancing. The championships continue through May 17, with 47 events scheduled across track and field disciplines.
