Kenya at the Olympics

Last updated
Kenya at the
Olympics
Flag of Kenya.svg
IOC code KEN
NOC National Olympic Committee of Kenya
Medals
Ranked 35th
Gold
39
Silver
44
Bronze
41
Total
124
Summer appearances
Winter appearances

Kenya made its Olympic debut at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and has since become one of the most prominent nations in Olympic athletics. The country has participated in every Summer Games since its debut, with the exception of the 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Games, which it boycotted along with several other African nations due to political reasons. Twenty-nine countries boycotted the 1976 Games [1] [2] due to the refusal of the IOC to ban New Zealand, after the New Zealand national rugby union team had toured South Africa earlier in 1976. [3] On the occasion of the 1980 Boycotts initiated by the United States, Boxer Muhammad Ali traveled to Tanzania, Nigeria, and Senegal to unsuccessfully convince their leaders to join the boycott. [4] [5] [6] He did, however, successfully convince the Kenyan government to do so. [7]

Contents

Kenya's Olympic achievements are overwhelmingly concentrated in track and field events, particularly in middle- and long-distance running, where it has established itself as a global powerhouse. Kenyan runners have consistently dominated events ranging from the 800 metres to the marathon. The country has also won several medals in boxing, particularly in the 1960s through the 1980s, although recent decades have seen a decline in that sport’s contribution to Kenya’s medal tally.

One of the few African and tropical countries, Kenya participated also in the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018. Kenyan athletes have won 124 medals in total, all from boxing and track and field events, making them the most successful African committee at the Olympics. [8]

Another notable development has been the rise of Kenyan women in Olympic competition. While the first Kenyan woman, Pauline Konga, to win an Olympic medal did so in 1996 at the Women's 5000 metres, by 2016, Kenyan women earned seven of the nation's 13 medals, highlighting a rapid and encouraging rise in female participation and success at the highest levels of sport.

Increasingly, Kenya-born athletes are immigrating to compete in the Olympics for other countries, most notably Bahrain. In the 2016 Olympics, there were ~20 such athletes, including multiple medal winners.

The National Olympic Committee representing Kenya is the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, founded in 1955. [9]

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games

Medals by Winter Games

Medals by sport

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 384336117
Boxing pictogram.svg  Boxing 1157
Totals (2 entries)394441124

List of medalists

MedalName(s)GamesSportEvent
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Wilson Kiprugut 1964 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Naftali Temu 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Kipchoge Keino 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Amos Biwott 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Benjamin Kogo 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Daniel Rudisha , Munyoro Nyamau, Naftali Bon, Charles Asati 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 4 × 400 m relay
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Kipchoge Keino 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Naftali Temu 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Wilson Kiprugut 1968 Mexico City Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Philip Waruinge 1968 Mexico City Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's featherweight
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Kipchoge Keino 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Charles Asati , Munyoro Nyamau, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 4 × 400 m relay
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Kipchoge Keino 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Ben Jipcho 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Philip Waruinge 1972 Munich Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's featherweight
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Julius Sang 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 400 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Mike Boit 1972 Munich Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Samuel Mbugua 1972 Munich Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's lightweight
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Dick Murunga 1972 Munich Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's welterweight
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Julius Korir 1984 Los Angeles Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Michael Musyoki 1984 Los Angeles Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Ibrahim Bilali 1984 Los Angeles Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's flyweight
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Julius Kariuki 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold John Ngugi 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Paul Ereng 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Peter Rono 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Robert Wangila 1988 Seoul Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's welterweight
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Peter Koech 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Douglas Wakiihuri 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Kipkemboi Kimeli 1988 Seoul Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Chris Sande 1988 Seoul Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Men's middleweight
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Matthew Birir 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold William Tanui 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Richard Chelimo 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Patrick Sang 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Paul Bitok 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Nixon Kiprotich 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze William Mutwol 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Samson Kitur 1992 Barcelona Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 400 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Joseph Keter 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Paul Tergat 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Moses Kiptanui 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Paul Bitok 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Pauline Konga 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Stephen Kipkorir 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Fred Onyancha 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Erick Wainaina 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Noah Ngeny 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Reuben Kosgei 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Paul Tergat 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Wilson Boit Kipketer 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Erick Wainaina 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Bernard Lagat 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Joyce Chepchumba 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's Marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Ezekiel Kemboi 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Bernard Lagat 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Brimin Kipruto 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Isabella Ochichi 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Catherine Ndereba 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's Marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Paul Kipsiele Koech 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Eliud Kipchoge 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Asbel Kipruto Kiprop 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Brimin Kiprop Kipruto 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Wilfred Bungei 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Samuel Wanjiru 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Pamela Jelimo 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Nancy Lagat 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 1500 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 800 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Catherine Ndereba 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's Marathon
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Eunice Jepkorir 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Eliud Kipchoge 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Micah Kogo 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Edwin Cheruiyot Soi 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Alfred Kirwa Yego 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Sylvia Kibet 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 metres
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Linet Masai 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 10000 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Ezekiel Kemboi 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold David Rudisha 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Sally Kipyego 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Priscah Jeptoo 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's Marathon
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Vivian Cheruiyot 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Abel Kirui 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Vivian Cheruiyot 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 10000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Abel Mutai 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Milcah Chemos Cheywa 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 3000 m steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Timothy Kitum 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Thomas Longosiwa 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Pamela Jelimo 2012 London Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold David Rudisha 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Conseslus Kipruto 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 m steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Eliud Kipchoge 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Faith Kipyegon 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Jemimah Sumgong 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's Marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Vivian Cheruiyot 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Hellen Obiri 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Hyvin Jepkemoi Kiyeng 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Vivian Cheruiyot 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Boniface Mucheru Tumuti 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 400m hurdles
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Paul Tanui 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 10000 m
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Julius Yego 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's Javelin
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Margaret Wambui 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 800 m
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Emmanuel Korir 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Faith Kipyegon 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 1500 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Peres Jepchirchir 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's marathon
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Eliud Kipchoge 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's marathon
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Hellen Obiri 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 metres
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Ferguson Rotich 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 metres
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Brigid Kosgei 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's marathon
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Timothy Cheruiyot 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 1500 metres
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Benjamin Kigen 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 metres steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 3000 metres steeplechase
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Beatrice Chebet 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Beatrice Chebet 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 10,000 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Emmanuel Wanyonyi 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 800 metres
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Faith Kipyegon 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 1500 metres
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Faith Kipyegon 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 5000 metres
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Ronald Kwemoi 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 5000 metres
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Mary Moraa 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 800 metres
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Faith Cherotich 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 3000 metres steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Abraham Kibiwott 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's 3000 metres steeplechase
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Benson Kipruto 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's marathon
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Hellen Obiri 2024 Paris Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's marathon

Multiple medal winners

AthleteSexSportEventsYearsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Faith Kipyegon FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1500 m, 5000m2012–20243104
Kipchoge Keino MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1500 m, 5000 m, 3000 m st.1964–19722204
Eliud Kipchoge MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m, marathon2004–20202114
Ezekiel Kemboi MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 3000 m st.2004–20162002
David Rudisha MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 800 m2012–20162002
Beatrice Chebet FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m, 10,000m20242002
Vivian Cheruiyot FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m, 10,000 m2000–20161214
Charles Asati MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 4 × 400 m1968–19761102
Munyoro Nyamau MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 4 × 400 m1968–19721102
Brimin Kipruto MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 3000 m st.2004–20161102
Julius Sang MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 400 m, 4 × 400 m1968–19721012
Naftali Temu MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m, 10,000 m1964–19721012
Pamela Jelimo FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 800 m2008–20121012
Hellen Obiri FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m, Marathon2016–20240213
Paul Bitok MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 5000 m1992–19960202
Paul Tergat MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 10,000 m1996–20000202
Catherine Ndereba FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics Marathon2004–20080202
Wilson Kiprugut MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 800 m1964–19680112
Philip Waruinge MBoxing pictogram.svg  Boxing Featherweight1968–19720112
Erick Wainaina MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics Marathon1996–20000112
Bernard Lagat MAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1500 m2000–20040112
Hyvin Jepkemoi FAthletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 3000 m st.2016–20200112

See also

References

  1. "Diplomatic Controversies". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. "Africa and the XXIst Olympiad" (PDF). Olympic Review. International Olympic Committee. November–December 1976. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. "The Montreal Olympics boycott | NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online". Nzhistory.net.nz. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  4. Sarantakes. Dropping the Torch, pp. 115–118.
  5. Honey, Martha (4 February 1980). "Ali Spars With Second Thoughts As Africans Argue Boycott Issue". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  6. Ezra, Michael (June 5, 2016). "Muhammad Ali's Strange, Failed Diplomatic Career". POLITICO Magazine. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  7. Cuddihy, Martin (June 9, 2016). "Muhammad Ali: Africa remembers the boxing legend". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  8. "Kenya - NOC Profile". olympics.com. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  9. "Home > National Olympic Committees > Kenya". Olympic. IOC. Retrieved 29 June 2015.