Assefa had established the earlier record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds.

Chepngetich expressed her joy after the race, saying , "I feel so great, I'm proud of myself. This is my dream that has come true… I've fought a lot thinking about the world record, and I have fulfilled it."

Following her record-breaking run, Kenyan President William Ruto took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Chepngetich. He praised the athlete, stating, “I salute Ms Chepngetich for breaking the world record and becoming the first woman in history to break the 2:10:00 barrier.”

Chepngetich’s achievement comes amid a backdrop of scrutiny in Kenyan athletics, following a doping scandal involving 138 Kenyan athletes across various sports between 2004 and August 2018.

When asked if her record might be questioned due to its speed, she responded , “You know people must talk, so I don’t know."

Chepngetich now holds the distinction of being the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and ten minutes, a feat that will go down as one of the greatest moments in women's marathon history.

Bolaji’s historic win came against Ukraine's Oksana Kozyna, whom she defeated 21-9, 21-9 to clinch the bronze medal.

In an emotional tribute, Bolaji dedicated her victory to her late coach, Bello Oyebanji, who tragically passed away in a road accident three years ago while she was preparing for the Tokyo Paralympics.

On social media, she shared, “It was an incredible round-up as I secured a bronze medal for myself, my country, my supporters, and Africa at large at the 2024 Paralympics. God willing, I dedicate this achievement to my late coach, Bello Oyebanji.”

In a heartfelt follow-up post, she added, “How I wish Coach Bello Oyebanji were alive, but Allah knows best.”

Bolaji’s bronze medal is also Nigeria’s first medal at the Paris Paralympics. Her achievement has garnered widespread recognition across Nigeria, with commendations pouring in from the Nigerian presidency and various state institutions celebrating her accomplishment.

“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) acknowledges today’s decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep. Following a hearing held between 7-9 February 2024 in Lausanne, Switzerland, the CAS panel has partially upheld an appeal from Halep against a disciplinary sanction imposed by an independent tribunal in September 2023, reducing the period of ineligibility from four years to nine months,” the ITIA said.

“An essential element of the anti-doping process is a player’s ability to appeal, and the ITIA respects both their right to do so and the outcome. The ITIA awaits the full reasoned decision and will review it thoroughly in due course,” ITIA Chief Executive Officer, Karen Moorhouse added.

After the U.S. Open in 2022, the 32-year-old tested positive for roxadustat, a banned anti-anaemia drug that boosts the production of red blood cells, leading to her suspension.

In 2023, the former French Open and Wimbledon champion faced an additional doping accusation due to anomalies in her athlete biological passport (ABP), a system established to track various blood parameters over time to detect possible doping.

Halep attributed testing positive for the banned roxadustat to tainted nutritional supplements and accused the ITIA of an ABP violation after experts discovered her identity.

“I adjusted my nutritional supplements. None listed ingredients included any prohibited substances however we now know and the tribunal agreed one of them was contaminated with roxadustat. I was tested almost weekly after my initial positive test through early 2023, all of which came back negative. Despite this evidence, the ITIA brought an ABP charge only after its expert group learned my identity,” Halep said in a statement in September 2023.

Kundananji’s $860,000 transfer move overtook English midfielder Keira Walsh as the most expensive women’s footballer in history after her £400,000 switch from English side Manchester City to Spanish side Barcelona in 2022, BBC reports.

"People in Zambia will be surprised but they will be so happy… I want to give the Bay FC fans what they want - to enjoy the games, to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring," the Zambian footballer told BBC.

“We are delighted to add Racheal to our group. She is a tremendous talent with dynamic attacking qualities and an incredible physical profile who has produced for both club and country. Racheal has composure in front of goal and a natural ability to score with different types of finishes and from various locations. We believe she will continue to grow and develop at our club, showcasing her skillset and adding to the array of exciting attacking talent we have here,” Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton said in a press release .

The forward, who netted 33 goals for Madrid CFF in 43 Liga F matches, signed a four-year deal with the American team that runs through the 2027 season with an option for the 2028 season.

Kundananji competes for Zambia internationally, representing her country in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia.

At the age of 18, Kundananji secured her first professional contract overseas with BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan before moving to Europe. In 2019 and 2020, she contributed to the team's back-to-back league championships. Kundananji participated in the Copperbelt Women's League in Zambia in 2018 for the Ideni Roses, where she scored 21 goals in 18 games to help the team win the league.

The Zambian record holder joins Nigeria striker and six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala. Oshoala joined the club after an impressive stint with the Spanish side Barcelona Women.

Bay Football Club is an American professional women's soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

The club was founded less than a year ago in April 2023 and is expected to make their National Women's Soccer League debut as an expansion team in the 2024 season.

Ngetich beat the previous road mixed-race world record established by Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw two years ago by 28 seconds.

"Honestly, my clear goal was to break the world record but 28:46 is beyond any expectations… When I saw 14:13 by halfway I didn't scare, it just motivated me a lot to keep on pushing until the end. I have no words to describe what I feel now," she said.

Ngetich’s 10km time is also faster than the women's world record for the distance on the track, with Letesenbet Gidey’s world 10,000m record standing at 29:01.03.

Emmaculate Anyango also ran the race in less than 29 minutes as well, finishing second to her countrymate with a time of 28 minutes and 57 seconds.

Lilian Rengeruk, another Kenyan long-distance runner rounded up the top three with a distance of  29 minutes and 32 seconds.

The East African athlete who had never competed at a distance longer than 10km managed to surpass compatriots Dera Dida and Ruti Aga, who were first and second in the previous year.

Aga finished second in 2:18:09, matching her personal best achieved at the Dongying Marathon in October 2023, while Dida was third in 2:19:29, barely five seconds behind her personal best set at the September 2023 Berlin Marathon.

“I was quite afraid of the distance before I ran my first marathon but now, I wonder why,” said Ketema.

The Ethiopian runner now moves to number eight on the world ’s all-time list. Her time ranks third on her nation's all-time list behind training partners, world record-holder Tigist Assefa and world champion Amane Beriso.

The 23-year-old Kenyan beat the previous women-only world mark of 14 minutes and 29 seconds set by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia on September 12, 2021.

"I came to Barcelona determined to better the world record as I felt capable of that… This world record means a lot for me, I can't believe it," said Chebet.

Her time was also quicker than the women's world record of 14 minutes 19 seconds set by Ethiopia's Ejegayehu Taye in a mixed race at the Cursa dels Nassos in 2021.

Ethiopian, Ejegayehu Taye’s 14 minutes and 21 seconds came in at second place, Kenya’s Lilian Kasait Rengeruk finished third with 14 minutes and 26 seconds, Joy Cheptoyek from Uganda also followed in fourth place with 14 minutes and 28 seconds, while Ethiopian, Medina Eisa rounded up the top five with 14 minutes and 40 seconds.

Chebet also claimed the gold medal for the senior women’s race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia in February 2023 ahead of pre-race favourite Letesenbet Gidey from Ethiopia.

24-year-old Kiptum achieved a world record by becoming the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon by running 2:00:35 in a marathon held in Chicago in October.

The Kenyan now has three of the seven fastest times in history only a year after making his marathon debut.

Kipyegon set world records at three distances during a season, including the 1500m, 5000m, and 1500m.

The 29-year-old improved the 1500m world record to 3:49.11 in Florence, improved the 5000m world record to 14:05.20 in Paris after only having raced just twice in that event, and achieved her third world record by beating the previous mile mark by five seconds when she run 4:07.64 in Monaco. She also won her third senior world 1500m title and first world 5000m crown.

Ethiopian long-distance runner, Tigist Assefa was also named one of the World Athletes of the Year. The 27-year-old broke the female world record for a marathon by two minutes and 14 seconds in September.

This year, Sbaity etched her name in history books as the first Black athlete from Lebanon to secure gold at the West Asian and Arab championships. The victory was not just a personal triumph for Aziza; it was a moment that transcended the finish line.

"The feeling was indescribable. I waited my whole life for that moment and I made sure to take every second and every moment in. I worked so hard and took so many risks in my life for athletics. So, to see the fruits of my labour come to life was so surreal," Sbaity told GSW.

"I love representing Lebanon so much and I’m proud of being able to show a different and diverse side of our beautiful country," she added. 

Beyond the accolades and medals, Aziza actively utilizes her achievements and social media presence to address racism and advocate for racial equality. In a society she describes as "highly racist," she addresses the pervasive issue both within the migrant and mixed communities in Lebanon. 

"I’ve always used my social media platforms as my personal blogs. They’re spaces where I share my personal opinions and my real-time thoughts. I’ve never been afraid to show my point of view on issues and I think that is why engagement levels are usually pretty high," she noted.

Her vocal stance on social media has sparked conversations and garnered support from people of various backgrounds who have faced similar challenges.

"I always receive a lot of messages from people of all ages telling me how they are inspired by what I do, or that I am a sense of motivation for them and my favourite type of messages are the ones from mixed or international families who are happy to have someone like me represent Lebanon and how they love showing their kids everything I do," she emphasized.

Aziza's determination to use her platform for positive change stems from personal experiences. Born to a Liberian mother and a Lebanese father, Aziza moved to Lebanon at a young age. "The move was very difficult because I was just so used to the diversity and acceptance Liberia had to offer, something that I didn’t find at all at first in Lebanon. I had so much trouble feeling any sense of belonging. I faced bullying and racism at first and I would always feel and sense that people were looking at me in a weird way," she recalled. 

Aziza's journey into sports became a quest for acceptance and inclusion, a journey that ultimately led her to the track.

Her introduction to competitive athletics happened through her school's basketball team, but it was in track and field that she discovered her unparalleled speed.

Despite all the challenges she faced, Aziza excelled at regional championships and garnered attention as a rising star. Her leap to the national stage came during the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009, marking the beginning of her illustrious track career.

While people of African origins are not uncommon in Lebanon, racial discrimination remains a pressing concern. Aziza's darker skin tone made her a target for taunts and prejudice, especially during her school years. However, she remained resilient, fueled by the unwavering support of her family, friends, and fellow track members.

"I found belonging in sports. I excelled in all sports and found my community in my school’s basketball team which I joined as soon as I was enrolled in my classes. Till this day I am so grateful that my parents gave me the best of everything and made sure that I was in the right environment that would nurture my personality and my character," she said. 

Aziza's success is not just about breaking records; it's about dismantling stereotypes and challenging societal norms. Her journey from a young girl facing racism to Lebanon's fastest woman serves as an inspiration, proving that passion, resilience, and a powerful voice can bring about positive change. As she sets her sights on the 2024 Olympics, Aziza Sbaity continues to run not just for herself but for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Her incredible skills, intense speed, and natural goal-scoring ability have propelled her to international stardom. Born on October 9, 1994, in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria, Oshoala's journey to becoming one of Africa's most celebrated athletes is marked by remarkable accomplishments and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Early life and rise to prominence

 Asisat Oshoala's football journey began in the streets of Lagos. As a young girl, she was playing against boys twice her age. Her exceptional talent caught the eye of local coaches, and before long, she was enrolled in the renowned FC Robo academy. There, her remarkable progress and unparalleled dedication quickly led to her promotion to Nigeria's U-20 national team, the Falconets.

Achievements with Nigeria

Oshoala played a pivotal role in the Nigerian U-20 national team's success in 2014 when they finished as runners-up in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada. Her electrifying performances, including a brace in the semifinal against North Korea, earned her the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer.

Oshoala has also been a dominant force in the senior Nigerian national team, the Super Falcons. She has helped her team win multiple AWCON titles, showcasing her ability to perform at the highest level on the continent.

Oshoala represented Nigeria in the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015, making history by becoming the first African woman to score in the competition, with a goal against England in the tournament.

Club successes Asisat Oshoala's has made a significant impact in club football beyond Nigerian borders as well.

Oshoala joined English Professional Football Club, Arsenal Ladies in 2016 and made an instant impact, winning the Women's FA Cup and the Women's Super League in her first season.

In 2019, Oshoala made a move to FC Barcelona Femení, one of Europe's top women's football clubs in Spain. She has since been an integral part of the team, helping them secure numerous domestic and international titles, including the UEFA Women's Champions League.

African Women's Footballer of the Year

Oshoala has been named the African Women's Footballer of the Year on multiple occasions, underscoring her status as one of Africa's premier female footballers. She landed the prestigious award in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and in 2022.

CAF Women's Champions League Golden Boot Award

She emerged as the first African woman to receive the Golden Boot Award. In the inaugural edition of the CAF Women's Champions League, Oshoala finished as the top scorer.

UEFA Women's Champions League best forward

Her exceptional performances in the UEFA Women's Champions League earned her recognition as one of the best forwards in European women's football.

Oshala also is widely admired for her women's empowerment and interest in women's development, particularly in sports. She is also involved in numerous philanthropic endeavours aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged children in Nigeria.