Africa has long been a powerhouse in global sports, producing some of the world’s most outstanding athletes. In 2025, African women continued to excel across a wide range of disciplines, asserting their presence on the world stage. From sprinters and distance runners to hurdlers and field event stars, these athletes embody excellence and resilience.
This article highlights our list of the continent’s Top 10 Female Athletes in 2025, beginning with those ranked 10th through 6th.
10. Jo-Ane du Plessis
Off the back of an incredible season that saw her win Silver at the Paris Olympics, South Africa’s Javelin queen Jo-Ané du Plessis opened her season in April with a win and Season’s Best (SB) of 61.32m at the Botswana Grand Prix. She improved her SB to 62.65m in China and then secured her next victory at the Hylo Javelin Meeting in Offenburg, throwing 62.35m.
Du Plessis launched a new SB of 62.77m to claim 3rd place at the Oslo Diamond League, facing a tough field. At the penultimate Diamond League in Lausanne, she held on to 2nd place and eight days later, finished 3rd at the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a throw of 62.26m.
At the World Championships in Tokyo, Du Plessis had to settle for 4th place, despite throwing an SB of 63.06m. The two-time African Champion was in the Bronze position until the final moments when Mackenzie Little of Australia edged her out of a podium placement.
9. Prudence Sekgodiso
Prudence Sekgodiso kicked off her season at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting, running 2:02.30 and raced to a new National Record (NR) of 1:59.88 at the Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe. She equalled the mark at the Indoor Meeting in Lievin
The South African made history at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, where she won GOLD in the women’s 800m with a new NR of 1:58.40 – her fourth sub-two-minute run of the season. This was South Africa’s first-ever GOLD medal in the event at the championship and Sekgodiso’s first global title.
The 23-year-old completed the 800m/1500m double at the South African Championships and went on to set a new Personal Best (PB) of 1:57.16 to win the women’s 800m at the Ostrava Golden Spike, breaking Maria Mutola’s 21-year-old Meeting Record (MR). She matched her PB again at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury at the World Championship in Tokyo and Did Not Finish (DNF) her 800m heat, bringing her season to a premature end.
8. Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith
Ivorian sprinter Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith had a formidable season, finishing Top 3 in most of her races. Her first sub-10s came at the Ostrava Golden Spike where she clocked 10.92s to finish 2nd, and then 10.90s at the Prefontaine Classic for 3rd. At the Silesia Diamond League, she stormed an SB of 10.87s to place 3rd in a stacked women’s 100m field and maintained the same position in the 200m at the Lausanne Diamond League with a time of 22.37s.
The 36-year-old sprinter settled for 3rd in both the 100m and 200m at the Diamond League Final in Zurich. Making her sixth appearance at the World Championships, the African Record holder over 100m was the continent’s sole representative in the women’s 100m/200m final and placed 7th in both races.
Ta Lou-Smith who has amassed eight medals at the African Championships, ended her season at the Athlos Meet in New York, where she settled for 3rd in the 200m and 4th in the 100m. The quadruple world medallist, who is an inspiration to up-and-coming athletes in Africa, was bestowed with exceptional recognition by her country, which named a street in her honour.
7. Gudaf Tsegay
Two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay started her season in Liévin, clocking 8:25.12 for 2nd place in the 3000m. She ran a stunning time of 3:53.92 to win the 1500m at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup. The Ethiopian improved her Championship Record (CR) to 3:54.86 to win the 1500m title at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. About a month later, she stormed to victory in the 1500m with a time of 3:58.14 at the Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb.
Tsegay recorded an SB of 14:04.41 in the 5000m at the Eugene Diamond League and switched gears at the London Diamond League, where she set a World Lead (WL), Meeting Record (MR), and NR of 4:11.88, becoming the second-fastest woman in history over the distance. She also broke the MR in the 1500m at the Silesia Diamond League, running a blistering 3:50.62.
At the World Championships in Tokyo, Tsegay placed 5th in the 5000m final with a time of 14:56.46. She then clinched a Bronze medal in the 10,000m in 30:39.65. She ended her season at the ATHLOS Meet, settling for Silver with a time of 4:19.75 in the mile.
6. Tobi Amusan
The 2025 season was one of redemption for 100m Hurdles World Record (WR) holder Tobi Amusan, who made a bold move by teaming up with legendary Glenn Mills, Usain Bolt’s former coach. This decision led to a stellar 2025 season for the Nigerian hurdler. She kicked off her season at the Xiamen Diamond League, finishing 4th in 12.74s. A month later, she improved to 12.45s in Rabat.
At the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica, she ran an SB of 11.18s over 100m. At the Paris Diamond League, the three-time Diamond League Final champion clocked her fastest time since her WR of 12.12s in 2022, blazing a scorching 12.24s to place 2nd. Four days later, she took the crown at the Ostrava Golden Spike memorial in 12.45s.
At the Eugene Diamond League, Amusan ran an impressive 12.38s for 2nd, then claimed her fifth consecutive National title in 12.57s. Two weeks later, she blazed to a superb 12.25s, her 3rd fastest time ever, to finish 3rd at the Chorzow Diamond League in Poland.
At the World Championship in Tokyo, the two-time Commonwealth Games champion dominated the 100m hurdles semifinals, posting the overall fastest time of 12.36s. In the final, she ran a tactical race, letting her top-end speed do the job as she crossed the line in 12.29s which was good enough for Silver, securing Nigeria’s only medal in Tokyo.
