Kenya at the World Athletics Championships

Last updated
Kenya at the
World Championships in Athletics
Flag of Kenya.svg
WA codeKEN
National federation Athletics Kenya
Website www.athleticskenya.or.ke
Medals
Ranked 2nd
Gold
65
Silver
58
Bronze
48
Total
171
World Championships in Athletics appearances (overview)

Kenya has competed at every edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics since its inception in 1983. It has won the second highest number of gold medals at the championships (after the United States) and also has the second highest medals total (after the U.S.).

Contents

The vast majority of its medals have come in middle- and long-distance running events, mostly on the men's side. It ranks fourth on all-time placing tables at the competition, reflecting its narrow event focus. The nation typically sends medium-sized delegations of 40–50 athletes. Kenya ranked number one on gold medals at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics and has finished in the top five nations on the medal table at all but five editions.

The country's most successful athlete at the competition is Ezekiel Kemboi, who has won four gold medals and three silver medals in the men's 3000 metres steeplechase. Kenya's most successful woman, Faith Kipyegon has won four gold medals and two silver medals in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres. Vivian Cheruiyot, has also won four gold medals and also a silver in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres events. Men's steeplechaser Moses Kiptanui won three straight titles from 1991 to 1995 and Asbel Kiprop achieved the same feat in the 1500 metres from 2011 to 2015. Julius Yego is the country's only field event medallist, having won the men's javelin throw in 2015.

Former Kenyans have also had impacts for other nations at the championships, including 2007's double champion Bernard Lagat (United States), two-time steeplechase champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen (Qatar) and marathon winner Rose Chelimo (Bahrain).

Medal table

ChampionshipsMenWomenTotal
GoldSilverBronzeGoldSilverBronzeGoldSilverBronzeTotalRankAthletes
1983 Helsinki 0000000000-
1987 Rome 30000030035
1991 Tokyo 43000143184
1993 Stuttgart 333001334104
1995 Gothenburg 21200121366
1997 Athens 22210032274
1999 Seville 140001141613
2001 Edmonton 33200033283
2003 Paris 11010121147
2005 Helsinki 11301112479
2007 Osaka 323212535132
2009 Berlin 23123046111343
2011 Daegu 43035378317247
2013 Moscow 21233154312449
2015 Beijing 54222176316152
2017 London 31221252411250
2019 Doha 20332152411242
2022 Eugene 12113225310444
2023 Budapest 02231233410552
Total4236282322206558481712

Medalists

AthleteGoldSilverBronzeTotalYears
Ezekiel Kemboi 43072003–2015
Faith Kipyegon 42062015–2023
Vivian Cheruiyot 41052007–2015
Moses Kiptanui 31041991–1997
Asbel Kiprop 30032011–2015
Conseslus Kipruto 22152013–2022
Hellen Onsando Obiri 21142013–2022
Catherine Ndereba 21032003–2007
Edna Kiplagat 21032011–2017
Billy Konchellah 20131987–1993
Ismael Kirui 20021993–1995
Abel Kirui 20022009–2011
David Rudisha 20022011–2015
Janeth Jepkosgei 12032007–2011
Milcah Cheywa 12032009–2013
Brimin Kiprop Kipruto 11242005–2015
Moses Tanui 11021991–1993
Christopher Koskei 11021995–1999
Wilson Boit Kipketer 11021997–1999
Benjamin Limo 11021999–2005
Eliud Kipchoge 11022003–2007
Alfred Kirwa Yego 11022007–2009
Elijah Manangoi 11022015–2017
Timothy Cheruiyot 11022015–2019
Beatrice Chepkoech 11022019–2023
Sally Barsosio 10121993–1997
Linet Masai 10122009–2011
Eunice Jepkoech Sum 10122013–2015
Hyvin Jepkemoi 10122015–2017
Mary Moraa 10122022–2023

Doping

Compared to other successful nations, such as the United States and Russia, Kenya's athletes have been largely unaffected by doping failures at the competition. The nation's first failures at the championships occurred in 2015, neither of whom were finalists.

YearAthleteEventNotes
2015 Francisca Koki Women's 400 m hurdlesHeats only
2015 Joy Sakari Women's 400 mSemi-finalist

References