Algeria and Morocco set world records on a landmark Tokyo morning
Skander Athmani, Safia Djelal and Abdeslam Hili secured gold during a strong African session at Tokyo 2020.
Algeria opened its Para athletics gold-medal account at Tokyo 2020 with victories by Skander Athmani and Safia Djelal on 2 September 2021. Both performances established world records, according to the OIS and World Para Athletics report published on the IPC website.
Records and an all-African podium
Athmani won the men’s 400m T13 in 46.70 seconds. Morocco’s Mohamed Amguoun and Namibia’s Johannes Nambala joined him on an all-African podium. Djelal followed with 11.29m to win the women’s shot put F57.
Morocco’s Abdeslam Hili added another world record, running 47.59 to take the men’s 400m T12 title. The same morning also produced a widely reported personal moment for Cape Verde’s Keula Pereira Semedo and guide Manuel Vaz da Veiga, who became engaged after her 200m T11 heat. The session combined elite African results with a memorable celebration of an athlete-and-guide partnership.