Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Last updated
Kenya at the
2008 Summer Olympics
Flag of Kenya.svg
IOC code KEN
NOC National Olympic Committee of Kenya
in Beijing
Competitors48 in 5 sports
Flag bearer Grace Momanyi
Medals
Ranked 13th
Gold
6
Silver
4
Bronze
6
Total
16
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Kenya competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Kenya won a total of 14 medals, 6 of them gold, its best ever performance at the Olympics.

Contents

Kenya sent a total of 46 athletes, 28 men and 18 women, to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Four Kenyan men won six gold medals, while the other two were awarded to the women. The remaining medals won by Kenyans were four silver and six bronze medals. Among the nation's gold medalists was Brimin Kipruto, who brought home the nation's seventh straight medal in the steeplechase since 1984. Coming in at a close third was Richard Matelong who was unable to surpass the Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad. Kenya also marked its Olympic debut in taekwondo by sending two athletes, one man and one woman. For the first time in Olympic history, the Kenyan athletes had participated in the women's 800 meter event final. Shortly after the 3,000 meter steeplechase, the women captured a gold medal against many odds. Along with the gold, they also took home the silver as well. Pamela Jelimo led her fellow Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei to a one-two finish.

Marathon runner Samuel Wanjiru did not only bring home the gold medal for the Kenyans, but also broke the 24-year-old Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes.

The Kenyans finished the Olympics being the most successful African country in the Beijing Olympics, and 13th place in the overall country standings.

Medalists

MedalNameSportEvent
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Pamela Jelimo Athletics Women's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Brimin Kipruto Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Wilfred Bungei Athletics Men's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Nancy Lagat Athletics Women's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Samuel Wanjiru Athletics Men's marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Asbel Kiprop Athletics Men's 1500 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Janeth Jepkosgei Athletics Women's 800 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Catherine Ndereba Athletics Women's marathon
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Eunice Jepkorir Athletics Women's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Eliud Kipchoge Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Richard Mateelong Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Micah Kogo Athletics Men's 10,000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Alfred Kirwa Yego Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Edwin Cheruiyot Soi Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Sylvia Kibet Athletics Women's 5000 metres
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Linet Masai Athletics Women's 10000 metres

Athletics

The following athletes have been selected for the Olympics: [1]

Men
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Vincent Mumo Kiilu 400 m 46.797Did not advance
Wilfred Bungei 800 m 1:44.901 Q1:46.231 Q1:44.65 SBGold medal icon.svg
Boaz Kiplagat Lalang 1:45.722 Q1:45.873Did not advance
Alfred Yego 1:46.042 Q1:44.731 Q1:44.82Bronze medal icon.svg
Augustine Choge 1500 m 3:35.473 Q3:37.544 Q3:35.5010
Asbel Kiprop 3:41.281 Q3:37.041 Q3:33.11Gold medal icon.svg
Nicholas Kemboi 3:41.5611Did not advance
Eliud Kipchoge 5000 m 13:37.502 Q13:02.80Silver medal icon.svg
Thomas Longosiwa 13:41.304 Q13:31.3412
Edwin Soi 13:46.411 Q13:06.22Bronze medal icon.svg
Micah Kogo 10000 m 27:04.11 SBBronze medal icon.svg
Moses Ndiema Masai 27:04.11 SB4
Martin Mathathi 27:08.25 PB7
Ezekiel Kemboi 3000 m steeplechase 8:17.554 Q8.16.387
Brimin Kipruto 8:23.532 Q8.10.34 SBGold medal icon.svg
Richard Matelong 8:19.872 Q8.11.01Bronze medal icon.svg
Luke Kibet Marathon DNF
Martin Lel 2:10:245
Samuel Wanjiru 2:06:32 OR Gold medal icon.svg
David Kimutai 20 km walk 1:22:2119
Women
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Elizabeth Muthuka 400 m DNSDid not advance
Pamela Jelimo 800 m 2:03.181 Q1:57.312 Q1:54.87Gold medal icon.svg
Janeth Jepkosgei 1:59.721 Q1:57.281 Q1:56.07 SBSilver medal icon.svg
Irene Jelagat 1500 m 4:09.929Did not advance
Viola Kibiwot 4:15.625Did not advance
Nancy Lagat 4:03.02 SB1 Q4:00.23 PBGold medal icon.svg
Vivian Cheruiyot 5000 m 14:57.272 Q15:46.325
Priscah Jepleting 14:58.074 Q15:51.7811
Sylvia Kibet 15:10.372 Q15:44.96Bronze medal icon.svg
Peninah Arusei 10000 m 31:39.8718
Linet Masai 30:26.50Bronze medal icon.svg
Lucy Wangui 30:39.967
Eunice Jepkorir 3000 m steeplechase 9:21.311 Q9:07.41Silver medal icon.svg
Ruth Bosibori Nyangau 9:19.752 Q9:17.356
Martha Komu Marathon 2:27:235
Salina Jebet Kosgei 2:29:2810
Catherine Ndereba 2:27:06Silver medal icon.svg
Key

Boxing

Kenya qualified five boxers for the Olympic boxing tournament. Bilali was the only boxer to qualify at the first African qualifying event. [2] The other four boxers all earned spots at the second African tournament. [3] In addition, welterweight boxer Nickson Abaka qualified for the Olympics, but missed the event due to injury. [4]

AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Suleiman Bilali Light flyweight Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Montero  (DOM)
L 3–9
Did not advance
Bernard Ngumba Flyweight Flag of Uzbekistan (3-2).svg  Doniyorov  (UZB)
L 1–10
Did not advance
Nick Okoth Featherweight Flag of Mexico.svg  Reyes  (MEX)
L 2–6
Did not advance
Aziz Ali Light heavyweight Flag of Turkey.svg  Muzaffer  (TUR)
L 3–8
Did not advance

Rowing

A sole Kenyan rower has qualified for the Olympics: [5]

Men
AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
Matthew Lidaywa Mwange Single sculls 8:16.096 SE/FBye7:49.174 FF7:52:5930

Swimming

Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing. [6]

Men
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
TimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
David Dunford 50 m freestyle 22.2920Did not advance
Jason Dunford 100 m freestyle 49.0624Did not advance
100 m butterfly 51.144 Q51.335 Q51.475

Taekwondo

Two Kenyan taekwondo jins will compete at the 2008 olympics: [7]

AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageBronze MedalFinal
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Dickson Wamwiri Men's −58 kg Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chu M-Y  (TPE)
L 0–7
Did not advance
Mildred Alango Women's −49 kg Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Wu Jy  (CHN)
L 0–7
Did not advanceFlag of Sweden.svg  Zajc  (SWE)
W 2–2 SUP
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Contreras  (VEN)
L 0–1
Did not advance5

See also

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References

  1. IAAF, July 5, 2008: Kenyan Beijing squad announced as trials conclude in Nairobi
  2. 1st AIBA African Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament Archived 2012-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "2nd AIBA African Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament". Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  4. Daily Nation, July 17, 2008; Boxer Abaka knocked out of Beijing Olympics as camp is officially opened Archived 2008-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Daily Nation, July 2, 2008: Lidaywa eyes Olympic medal Archived 2008-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
  6. The Standard, July 28, 2008: Dunfords wind up games preparation [usurped]
  7. Kenya Times, July 13, 2008: Kit boost for Tae-Kwon-Do team Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine