Sport in Eritrea

Cycling has a long tradition in Eritrea and was first introduced during the colonial period.The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage cycling event, is held annually since 1946 throughout the country. [1][2]

The national cycling teams of both men and women are ranked first on the African continent, and ranked amongst one of the best cycling nations in the world.[3] The Eritrea national cycling team has experienced a lot of success, winning the African continental cycling championship several years in a row. In 2013, the women's team won the gold medal in the African Continental Cycling Championships for the first time, and for the second time in 2015 and third time in 2019.[4][5][6][7]

Eritrean riders have enjoyed success in local and world championships.[8] The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage international cycling event, is held annually throughout the country. Eritrea has produced a number of professional road racing cyclists. As of 2013, there were five Eritrean cyclists competing professionally: Daniel Teklehaymanot, Natnael Berhane, Ferekalsi Debesay, Meron Russom, and Jani Tewelde.[9] Teklehaymanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first black African riders to compete in the Tour de France when they were selected by the MTN–Qhubeka team for the 2015 edition of the race.[10]

In July of the year, Teklehaimanot also became the first rider from an African team to wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.[11]

The team captain for the Eritrean national football team is Henok Goitom

Ghirmay Ghebreslassie became the first Eritrean to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Athletics when he took the marathon at the 2015 World Championships.[12] One of Eritrea's most notable sportsmen is Zersenay Tadese, a multiple winner of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, who also became the first Eritrean gold medallist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships when he won the individual senior gold at the 2007 championships. He was also an Olympic bronze medallist in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics, a silver medallist in the 10,000 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, and set a half marathon world record at the 2010 Lisbon Half Marathon. Also of note is Meb Keflezighi, an Eritrean-born American athlete who won two World Marathon Majors (2009 New York City Marathon, 2014 Boston Marathon) and was a silver medallist in the marathon at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[13]

Eritrea made Winter Olympic debut 25 February 2018 when they competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea 2018. Eritrea's team was represented by their flagbearer Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda who competed as alpine skier.[14]

• Eritrea at the Olympics
• Football in Eritrea