African Athletics Championships 2026: South Africa's Aiden Smith wins shot put gold on Day 1, Rwanda's Emeline Imanizabayo claims shock 5,000m gold

On Day 1 of the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, South Africa's 21-year-old Aiden Smith won the shot put gold medal with a throw of 20.01 metres, ahead of Egypt's Mostafa Amr Ahmed (18.89m) and Cameroon's Billy Jospen Takougoum (17.01m). Rwanda's Emeline Imanizabayo produced a surprise victory in the women's 5,000m final. Three gold medals were awarded in total on the opening day of competition.