2024 Olympics: Reports of Sao Tome and Principe sports minister competing as an athlete are false

Gorete Semedo, an athlete from Sao Tome and Principe, has denied claims that she is the sports minister of her country, as stated by certain media sources.

Multimedia sports journalist Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, following a conversation with Semedo, clarified that she is, in fact, the sister of the sports minister, who is also a former athlete holding national records in the 800m and 1500m events.

Semedo has urged the public to dismiss these inaccurate reports circulating on social media, stressing that they are baseless.

Semedo finished 6th in the first round of her race on August 2, 2024, in the Olympic Games.

"I just spoke to Sao Tome and Principe’s Gorete Semedo, who won her prelims and finished 6th in Round 1, and she is not the country’s sports minister as the commentator claimed and was widely reported, including us at Joy Sports.

"She’s the sister of the sports minister though, and the sports minister is a former athlete and the country’s record holder over 800m and 1500m,” Fentuo shared on his X page.

Meanwhile, the performance of African athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has not been impressive so far, with more events yet to come.

Read the tweet below:

I just spoke to asap Tome and Principe’s Gorete Semedo, who won her prelims and finished 6th in the Round 1, and SHE IS NOT the country’s sports minister as the commentator claimed and was widely reported, including us at Joy Sports. She’s the sister of the sports minister… pic.twitter.com/jHipWi5vWH

— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) August 2, 2024