Muzal Samukonga won bronze in the men’s Olympic 400 metres, marking Zambia’s first Olympic medal in 28 years. In front of a 69,000-strong crowd at the Stade de France, Samukonga set a new national record with a time of 43.74 seconds.
His achievement was even more remarkable as it marked the first time that five athletes finished the race in under 44 seconds. Quincy Hall of the United States secured the gold medal, while Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith claimed silver.
Zambia’s last Olympic medal was won by Samuel Matete at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he earned silver in the Men’s 400-metre hurdles.
President Hakainde Hichilema has congratulated the athlete for his achievement.
“We have our Olympic medal! Congratulations Muzala Samukonga. Your performance at the Paris Olympics fills us with immense pride,” he said in a post on X.