Togo hails 'stranger' for first ever games medal

Reuters

FIRST MEDAL: Benjamin Boukpeti of Togo breaks his paddle as he celebrates his third place in men's kayak final at the fact that won his country's first ever Olympic medal.

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Togo has hailed French-born Benjamin Boukpeti for winning the West African country's first ever Olympic medal and said it would make sure he was suitably honoured.

Until the white water kayaker's bronze medal triumph, many Togolese had no idea who he was bar the odd mention in the sports pages of local newspapers.

Born to a Togolese father and resident in France, Boukpeti has been to Togo only once, as a baby.

Boukpeti, 27, who chose to compete for Togo in Beijing when it became clear he was too old for France, said he now had a "very good reason" to visit the African nation after stunning the field and spectators at the Olympics.

The first non-European male kayaker to win an Olympic slalom medal, Boukpeti – the world number 56 in his sport – received by far the biggest cheers from the packed crowd.

"We are very pleased with Benjamin Boukpeti's achievement," said Eloi Salakoffi, director of sport at Togo's Sport and Leisure Ministry.

"We will have to make sure he is suitably honoured," said Salakoffi, adding Togo would do all it could to arrange for Boukpeti to visit the country to celebrate.

"I've never heard of this person, but having a compatriot win a medal at the Olympic Games is a real honour for us," said Yves Gbetounou, a high school science student in the capital Lome.

Boukpeti's Olympic medal victory was a rare sporting success for Togo.

The national football team made it to the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006 only to go on strike over pay and almost miss a match, causing the coach to walk out.

A year later the sports minister, football officials, fans and journalists were killed in a helicopter crash in Sierra Leone after an African Nations Cup qualifying match.

- Reuters