Antoine Nkounkou

Antoine Ntsana Nkounkou (13 September or 18 August 194811 November 2017), also known as N.A. Nkounkou, was a Congolese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Career Following an appearance at the 1970 World University Games where Nkounkou barely missed qualification to the 100 m semifinals and was disqualified in the 4 × 100 m, Nkounkou's talent was first discovered in 1971, at an athletics meeting in Abidjan where Nkounkou again contested the 100 m and 4 × 100 m. Nkounkou won an individual gold medal in the 100 m as well as 4 × 100 m silver at the 1972 Central African Cup, the precursor event to the Central African Games. This earned him selection onto the Congolese team at the 1972 Olympics, where he and his teammates (Jean Pierre Basségéla, Louis Nkandza and Théophile Nkounkou) were the only Congolese competitors to advance past the first round, and as of 2023 remain the only Congolese team to ever reach the semi-finals of the 4 × 100 metres relay at the Olympics.

Personal life Nkounkou graduated from the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism in Moscow. In 1973, he was awarded the honorary for his accomplishments. He married and had six children.

By the late 1980s, Nkounkou and his team had retired due to age, and Nkounkou attended the 1992 Summer Olympics as an official. He later became a physical education teacher and athletics coach. Nkounkou co-founded the association on 18 July 2011.