ONE OF THOSE OLYMPIC STORIES

Where’s Togo ? The Caribbean ? No, that’s Trinidad-Tobago… Out comes the atlas once again. The last time I had it out I was looking up Benin – the first Olympic delegation to take up residence in the Olympic village. You’d think I’d remember that Togo is right next door…just west of Benin . On the southern coast of West Africa , Togo is about 100 miles wide at its widest, and all of 360 miles long – about the size of West Virginia .

Togo ’s total Olympic delegation was three (3) athletes (all men), and fantastically, today one of them won Togo’s very first ever medal – a bronze in whitewater kayaking. (Where does a Togolese kayaker train? France …). Benjamin Boukpeti, who was Togo ’s flag bearer in Friday’s Opening Ceremony, had the third fastest time on Beijing ’s slalom course. Boukpeti, ranked 56^th in the world in this event, was ecstatic: “ I can hardly believe it but I'm not surprised." He is the first non-European male kayaker to win an Olympic slalom medal.

There’s some debate whether he is really Togolese. Technically, yes. He was born to a Togolese father and a French mother, grew up in France , and only visited Togo once as a baby. Many Togolese citizens are not familiar with him or his sport, but Cornelius Aidam, Minister for Communication, Culture and Civic Education, said that Boukpeti’s achievement was a proud moment for the nation. "This is unexpected,” he said, “It is a good surprise for Togo ."

Togo ’s other entrants in the 2008 Olympics, Sacha Dananyon (judo) and Komlavi Loglo (tennis) did not advance out of the early rounds of their sports.

But the world has one more Olympic medal-winning nation! Now that’s a spectacular achievement! Boukpeti will no doubt be spending some time in his “native” country!

-- MADAME PANG TONG