Benin at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Benin took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics which were held in Beijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008. The country's participation at Beijing marked its eighth consecutive appearance in the summer Olympics since its debut in 1972, and its ninth Olympic appearance ever.[lower-alpha 1] The Benin delegation included five athletes in 2008, participating in three sports: athletics, swimming and taekwondo.[2][3] Fabienne Feraez, a sprinter, was selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony.[4] None of the Benin athletes progressed further than the heat round.[5][6][7]

Benin at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeBEN
NOCBenin National Olympic and Sports Committee
in Beijing
Competitors5 in 3 sports
Flag bearer Fabienne Feraez
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Background

Benin participated in eight summer Olympic Games between its debut in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Competing under the name Dahomey, Benin made their Olympic debut in 1972, sending two athletes to the games.[8] The most number of Benin athletes participating in a summer games, is 16 in the 1980 games in Moscow.[9] Five athletes from Benin were selected to compete in the 2008 games: track and field athletes Fabienne Feraez and Mathieu Gnanligo; swimmers Alois Dansou and Gloria Koussihouede; and taekwondo practitioner Jean Moloise Ogoudjobi.[3] Benin was also the first to arrive and raise their flag at the Olympic Village.

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men's competition

A bronze medalist at the 2007 All-Africa Games,[10] Mathieu Gnanligo, participated in the 400 meters.[11] Gnanligo's appearance in Beijing marked his first appearance at any Olympic Games.[12] Once at the Olympics, Gnanligo was placed in the seventh heat on 18 August.[13] He ran a time of 47.10 seconds and finished seventh in the heat against seven other athletes.[13] He finished 49th out of 55 athletes, 6.01 seconds ahead of the slowest athlete Xiaosheng Liu, and 2.31 seconds behind the quickest athlete Chris Brown.[14] He was 1.14 seconds behind Andretti Bain, the slowest athlete who qualified for the semi-finals, and therefore did not progress.[14]

The Beijing National Stadium, where Gnanligo and Feraez competed in track and field events

Women's competition

Competing at her second Olympics,[15] Fabienne Feraez was the oldest competitor for Benin, aged 32.[3] She competed in the 200 meters on 19 August.[16] Feraez, who also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, was drawn into heat three.[16] Feraez ran a time of 24.07 seconds and finished last in her heat, exactly a second behind the winner, Marshevet Myers.[16] She finished 40th out of 46 athletes overall and was 8.09 seconds faster than the slowest athlete, Samia Yusuf Omar.[17] Feraez was 1.36 seconds behind the fastest athlete and 0.48 seconds behind the slowest athlete who progressed to the semi-finals, Eleni Artymata.[17]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Mathieu Gnanligo 400 m 47.10 7 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Fabienne Feraez 200 m 24.07 8 Did not advance

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men's competition

Alois Dansou competed in heat one of the 50 meters freestyle on August 14.[18] Dansou also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he did not progress out of the heats.[19] In 2008 Dansou repeated the result and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.[18] He finished first in his heat in a time of 24.54 seconds, ahead of Omar Jasim and Yasser Núñez.[18] Overall he finished 62nd of 97 competitors and did not qualify for the semi-finals.[18]

The Beijing National Aquatics Center, where Dansou and Koussihouede competed in swimming events

Women's competition

Benin had one woman competing in swimming at the 2008 Olympics.[5] That athlete was Gloria Koussihouede who competed in the 50 meters freestyle.[5] The 2008 Olympics was Koussihouedes second Olympics after competing in 2004,[20] and she was selected to compete in heat one.[21] Koussihouede finished second in her heat in a time of 37.09 seconds, behind Sameera Al-Bitar and ahead of Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira and Djene Barry.[21] Her time placed her 87th out of 90 athletes and she did not qualify for the semi-finals.[22]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Alois Dansou 50 m freestyle 24.54 62 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Gloria Koussihouede 50 m freestyle 37.09 87 Did not advance

Taekwondo
Main article: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men's competition

Benin had one taekwondo practitioner competing in the 2008 Olympics.[7] This man was Jean Moloise Ogoudjobi,[7] a 28-year-old Beninese athlete,[23] competing at his first Olympic Games.[23] Moloise Ogoudjobi fought in match three against Chutchawal Khawlaor from Thailand in the first round.[24] Moloise Ogoudjobi lost and did not progress to the quarter-finals.[25]

The Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium, where Moloise Ogoudjobi competed in taekwondo events
Men
Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Bronze Medal Final
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Jean Moloise Ogoudjobi Men's −58 kg  Khawlaor (THA)
L 2–4		 Did not advance

See also

Notes
  1. The country's appearance in 1972 was under the name Dahomey.[1]

References
  1. "Top End Sport – Country Names and the Olympic Games". Top End Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  2. "Benin becomes 1st foreign delegation to raise flag in Olympic Village". Xinhua. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Benin". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. "List of flagbearers Bejing [sic] 2008" (PDF). olympic.org. 8 August 2008. p. 1. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  5. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Benin – Swimming". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Benin – Athletics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  7. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Benin – Taekwondo". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  8. "Sports Reference – Munich 1972 – Benin". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  9. "Sports Reference – Moscow 1980 – Benin". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  10. "Africa Athlete – All Africa Games 2007 results". Africa Athlete. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  11. "Olympic results – Beijing 2008 – Athletics – 400 m – Men". olympic.org. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  12. "IAAF – Athletes – Benin – Mathieu Gnanligo – Honours". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  13. "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Men – 400 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  14. "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Men – 400 meters – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  15. "IAAF – Athletes – Benin – Fabienne Feraez – Honours". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  16. "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Women – 200 meters – Heats – Results". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  17. "IAAF – Results – Olympic Games – 2008 – Women – 200 meters – Heats – Summary". IAAF. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  18. "Olympics results – Beijing 2008 – Swimming – 50 meters freestyle – Men". olympic.org. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  19. "Sports Reference – Athens 2004 – Swimming – 50 meters freestyle". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  20. "Sports Reference – Athletes – Gloria Koussihouede". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  21. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Swimming – 50 meters freestyle – Women". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  22. "Olympics results – Beijing 2008 – Swimming – 50 meters freestyle – Women". olympic.org. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  23. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Athletes – M A Jean Moloise Ogoudjobi". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  24. "Sports Reference – Beijing 2008 – Taekwondo – Mens flyweight – Round one". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  25. "Olympic Games – Beijing 2008 – Taekwondo – -58 kg – Men". olympic.org. Retrieved 21 September 2014.

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