Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Sporting event delegation

Kenya at the
2008 Summer Olympics

IOC code| KEN
NOC| National Olympic Committee of Kenya
in Beijing
Competitors| 48 in 5 sports
Flag bearer | Grace Momanyi
Medals
Ranked 13th|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976–1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

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.

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

[edit]

Medal  | Name  | Sport  | Event

|
|
|

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

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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

Men
Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|

Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank
Vincent Mumo Kiilu | 400 m | 46.79  | 7  | Did not advance
Wilfred Bungei | 800 m | 1:44.90  | 1 Q | 1:46.23  | 1 Q | 1:44.65 SB |
Boaz Kiplagat Lalang | 1:45.72  | 2 Q | 1:45.87  | 3  | Did not advance
Alfred Yego | 1:46.04  | 2 Q | 1:44.73  | 1 Q | 1:44.82  |
Augustine Choge | 1500 m | 3:35.47  | 3 Q | 3:37.54  | 4 Q | 3:35.50  | 10
Asbel Kiprop | 3:41.28  | 1 Q | 3:37.04  | 1 Q | 3:33.11  |
Nicholas Kemboi | 3:41.56  | 11  | Did not advance
Eliud Kipchoge | 5000 m | 13:37.50  | 2 Q | —  | 13:02.80  |
Thomas Longosiwa | 13:41.30  | 4 Q | —  | 13:31.34  | 12
Edwin Soi | 13:46.41  | 1 Q | —  | 13:06.22  |
Micah Kogo | 10000 m | —  | 27:04.11 SB |
Moses Ndiema Masai | —  | 27:04.11 SB | 4
Martin Mathathi | —  | 27:08.25 PB | 7
Ezekiel Kemboi | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:17.55  | 4 Q | —  | 8.16.38  | 7
Brimin Kipruto | 8:23.53  | 2 Q | —  | 8.10.34 SB |
Richard Matelong | 8:19.87  | 2 Q | —  | 8.11.01  |
Luke Kibet | Marathon | —  | DNF
Martin Lel | —  | 2:10:24  | 5
Samuel Wanjiru | —  | 2:06:32 OR |
David Kimutai | 20 km walk | —  | 1:22:21  | 19

Women
Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|

Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank  | Result  | Rank
Elizabeth Muthuka | 400 m | DNS | Did not advance
Pamela Jelimo | 800 m | 2:03.18  | 1 Q | 1:57.31  | 2 Q | 1:54.87  |
Janeth Jepkosgei | 1:59.72  | 1 Q | 1:57.28  | 1 Q | 1:56.07 SB |
Irene Jelagat | 1500 m | 4:09.92  | 9  | —  | Did not advance
Viola Kibiwot | 4:15.62  | 5  | —  | Did not advance
Nancy Lagat | 4:03.02 SB | 1 Q | —  | 4:00.23 PB |
Vivian Cheruiyot | 5000 m | 14:57.27  | 2 Q | —  | 15:46.32  | 5
Priscah Jepleting | 14:58.07  | 4 Q | —  | 15:51.78  | 11
Sylvia Kibet | 15:10.37  | 2 Q | —  | 15:44.96  |
Peninah Arusei | 10000 m | —  | 31:39.87  | 18
Linet Masai | —  | 30:26.50  |
Lucy Wangui | —  | 30:39.96  | 7
Eunice Jepkorir | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:21.31  | 1 Q | —  | 9:07.41  |
Ruth Bosibori Nyangau | 9:19.75  | 2 Q | —  | 9:17.35  | 6
Martha Komu | Marathon | —  | 2:27:23  | 5
Salina Jebet Kosgei | —  | 2:29:28  | 10
Catherine Ndereba | —  | 2:27:06  |

Key

* Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
* Q = Qualified for the next round
* q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
* NR = National record
* N/A = Round not applicable for the event
* Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

## Boxing

[edit]

Main article: Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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]

Athlete  | Event  | Round of 32  | Round of 16  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final

|
|
|
|
|
|

Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Rank
Suleiman Bilali | Light flyweight |  Montero (DOM)
L 3–9  | Did not advance
Bernard Ngumba | Flyweight |  Doniyorov (UZB)
L 1–10  | Did not advance
Nick Okoth | Featherweight |  Reyes (MEX)
L 2–6  | Did not advance
Aziz Ali | Light heavyweight |  Muzaffer (TUR)
L 3–8  | Did not advance

## Rowing

[edit]

Main article: Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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

Men
Athlete  | Event  | Heats  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Final

|
|
|
|
|

Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank
Matthew Lidaywa Mwange | Single sculls | 8:16.09  | 6 SE/F | Bye  | 7:49.17  | 4 FF | 7:52:59  | 30

## Swimming

[edit]

Main article: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing.[6]

Men
Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|

Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank
David Dunford | 50 m freestyle | 22.29  | 20  | Did not advance
Jason Dunford | 100 m freestyle | 49.06  | 24  | Did not advance
100 m butterfly | 51.14  | 4 Q | 51.33  | 5 Q | 51.47  | 5

## Taekwondo

[edit]

Main article: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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

Athlete  | Event  | Round of 16  | Quarterfinals  | Semifinals  | Repechage  | Bronze Medal  | Final

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Opposition
Result  | Rank
Dickson Wamwiri | Men's −58 kg |  Chu M-Y (TPE)
L 0–7  | Did not advance
Mildred Alango | Women's −49 kg |  Wu Jy (CHN)
L 0–7  | Did not advance  |  Zajc (SWE)
W 2–2 SUP |  Contreras (VEN)
L 0–1  | Did not advance  | 5

## See also

[edit]

* Kenya at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
* Kenya at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
* Kenya at the 2010 Commonwealth Games

## References

[edit]

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 Archived 2009-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Kenya Times, July 13, 2008: Kit boost for Tae-Kwon-Do team Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine

## External links

[edit]

* sports-reference

* v
* t
* e

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*[DNF]: Did not finish
*[DNS]: Did not start
*[SUP]: Decision by superiority
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