| Benin at the 2008 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | BEN |
| NOC | Benin National Olympic and Sports Committee |
| Website | cnosben |
| inBeijing | |
| Competitors | 5 in3 sports |
| Flag bearer | Fabienne Feraez |
| Medals |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Benin took part in the2008 Summer Olympics which were held inBeijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008. The country's participation at Beijing marked its eighth consecutive appearance in the summer Olympics since its debut in 1972, and its ninth Olympic appearance ever.[a] The Benin delegation included five athletes in 2008, participating in three sports: athletics, swimming and taekwondo.[2][3]Fabienne Feraez, a sprinter, was selected as the flag bearer for theopening ceremony.[4] None of the Benin athletes progressed further than the heat round.[5][6][7]
Benin participated in eight summer Olympic Games between its debut in the1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Competing under the name Dahomey, Benin made their Olympic debut in 1972, sendingtwo athletes to the games.[8] The most number of Benin athletes participating in a summer games, is16 in the1980 games in Moscow.[9] Five athletes from Benin were selected to compete in the 2008 games: track and field athletes Fabienne Feraez andMathieu Gnanligo; swimmersAlois Dansou andGloria Koussihouede; and taekwondo practitionerJean Moloise Ogoudjobi.[3] Benin was also the first to arrive and raise their flag at the Olympic Village.
A bronze medalist at the2007 All-Africa Games,[10]Mathieu Gnanligo, participated in the400 meters.[11] Gnanligo's appearance in Beijing marked his first appearance at any Olympic Games.[12] Once at the Olympics, Gnanligo was placed in the seventh heat on 18 August.[13] He ran a time of 47.10 seconds and finished seventh in the heat against seven other athletes.[13] He finished 49th out of 55 athletes, 6.01 seconds ahead of the slowest athleteXiaosheng Liu, and 2.31 seconds behind the quickest athleteChris Brown.[14] He was 1.14 seconds behindAndretti Bain, the slowest athlete who qualified for the semi-finals, and therefore did not progress.[14]
Competing at her second Olympics,[15]Fabienne Feraez was the oldest competitor for Benin, aged 32.[3] She competed in the200 meters on 19 August.[16] Feraez, who also competed in the2004 Summer Olympics, was drawn into heat three.[16] Feraez ran a time of 24.07 seconds and finished last in her heat, exactly a second behind the winner,Marshevet Myers.[16] She finished 40th out of 46 athletes overall and was 8.09 seconds faster than the slowest athlete,Samia Yusuf Omar.[17] Feraez was 1.36 seconds behind the fastest athlete and 0.48 seconds behind the slowest athlete who progressed to the semi-finals,Eleni Artymata.[17]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Mathieu Gnanligo | 400 m | 47.10 | 7 | Did not advance | |||||
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Fabienne Feraez | 200 m | 24.07 | 8 | Did not advance | |||||
Alois Dansou competed in heat one of the50 meters freestyle on August 14.[18] Dansou also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he did not progress out of the heats.[19] In 2008 Dansou repeated the result and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.[18] He finished first in his heat in a time of 24.54 seconds, ahead ofOmar Jasim andYasser Núñez.[18] Overall he finished 62nd of 97 competitors and did not qualify for the semi-finals.[18]
Benin had one woman competing in swimming at the 2008 Olympics.[5] That athlete wasGloria Koussihouede who competed in the50 meters freestyle.[5] The 2008 Olympics was Koussihouedes second Olympics after competing in 2004,[20] and she was selected to compete in heat one.[21] Koussihouede finished second in her heat in a time of 37.09 seconds, behindSameera Al-Bitar and ahead ofPamela Girimbabazi Rugabira andDjene Barry.[21] Her time placed her 87th out of 90 athletes and she did not qualify for the semi-finals.[22]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | ||
| Alois Dansou | 50 m freestyle | 24.54 | 62 | Did not advance | |||
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | ||
| Gloria Koussihouede | 50 m freestyle | 37.09 | 87 | Did not advance | |||
Benin had onetaekwondo practitioner competing in the 2008 Olympics.[7] This man wasJean Moloise Ogoudjobi,[7] a 28-year-old Beninese athlete,[23] competing at his first Olympic Games.[23] Moloise Ogoudjobi fought in match three againstChutchawal Khawlaor fromThailand in the first round.[24] Moloise Ogoudjobi lost and did not progress to the quarter-finals.[25]
| Athlete | Event | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Bronze Medal | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank | ||
| Jean Moloise Ogoudjobi | Men's −58 kg |  Khawlaor (THA)L 2–4 | Did not advance | |||||
