Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Kenya at the Olympic Games
Flag of Kenya – Flag bearers IOC code  KEN NOC National Olympic Committee Kenya
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Competitors	48
Flag bearer	Grace Momanyi
Medals Rank: 13	Gold 6	Silver 4	Bronze 4	Total 14
Olympic history (summary)
Summer Games
1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008 • 2012
Winter Games
1998 • 2002 • 2006 • 2010

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 toal of 14 medals, 6 of the gold, its best ever performance at the Olympics.

The Kenyan's sent a total of 28 men and 18 women to the 2008 summer Olympics. Four of the Kenyan men were credited for the six gold medals and two went to the women. The other eight medals were split down the middle with four silver and four bronze. Among the gold medalists in Beijing for the olympics was Brimin Kipruto. He brought home the seventh straight medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the Kenyans. This record dates back to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Coming in at a close third was Richard Mateelong who couldn't quite catch the Frenchman Mahiedne Mekhissi-Benabbad.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics was the first time the Kenyans 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.

Samuel Wanjiru, the 21-year-old timed his marathon at 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 32 seconds. This not only brought 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 15th place in the overall country standings.

Medalists

Medal	Name	Sport	Event
1 Gold	Pamela Jelimo	Athletics	Women's 800 m
1 Gold	Brimin Kipruto	Athletics	Men's 3000 m steeplechase
1 Gold	Wilfred Bungei	Athletics	Men's 800 m
1 Gold	Nancy Lagat	Athletics	Women's 1500 m
1 Gold	Samuel Wanjiru	Athletics	Men's Marathon
1 Gold	Asbel Kiprop	Athletics	Men's 1500 metres
2 Silver	Janeth Jepkosgei	Athletics	Women's 800 m
2 Silver	Catherine Ndereba	Athletics	Women's marathon
2 Silver	Eunice Jepkorir	Athletics	Women's 3000 m steeplechase
2 Silver	Eliud Kipchoge	Athletics	Men's 5000 metres
3 Bronze	Richard Mateelong	Athletics	Men's 3000 m steeplechase
3 Bronze	Micah Kogo	Athletics	Men's 10000 m
3 Bronze	Alfred Kirwa Yego	Athletics	Men's 800 m
3 Bronze	Edwin Cheruiyot Soi	Athletics	Men's 5000 metres

Athletics

The following athletes have been selected for the Olympics :

Men's competition

Track and road events

Event	Athletes	Heat Round 1		Heat Round 2		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
400 m	Vincent Mumo Kiilu	46.79	7	Did not advance
800 m	Wilfred Bungei	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
1,500 m	Augustine Choge	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
5,000 m	Eliud Kipchoge	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
10,000 m	Micah Kogo							27:04.11 SB
	Moses Ndiema Masai							27:04.11 SB	4
	Martin Mathathi							27:08.25 PB	7
3000 m steeplechase	Ezekiel Kemboi	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
Marathon	Luke Kibet							Did not finish
	Martin Lel							2:10:24	5
	Samuel Wanjiru							2:06:32 OR
20 km walk	David Kimutai							1:22:21	19

Women's competition

Track and road events

Event	Athletes	Heat Round 1		Heat Round 2		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
400 m	Elizabeth Muthuka	did not compete
800 m	Pamela Jelimo	2:03.18	1 Q			1:57.31	2 Q	1:54.87 WJ
	Janeth Jepkosgei	1:59.72	1 Q			1:57.28	1 Q	1:56.07 SB
1,500 m	Irene Jelagat	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
5,000 m	Vivian Cheruiyot	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	4
10,000 m	Linet Masai							30:26.50	4
	Lucy Wangui							30:39.96	7
	Peninah Arusei							31:39.87	18
3000 m steeplechase	Ruth Bosibori Nyangau	9:19.75	2 Q					9:17.35	6
	Eunice Jepkorir	9:21.31	1 Q					9:07.41
Marathon	Martha Komu							2:27:23	5
	Salina Jebet Kosgei							2:29:28	10
	Catherine Ndereba							2:27:06

Boxing

Main articles: Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics and Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Qualification

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

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result
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

Main articles: Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics and Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Qualification

A sole Kenyan rower has qualified for the Olympics :

Men

Athlete(s)	Event	Heats		Semifinals		Final		Overall Pos.
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Mathew Lidaywa	Single sculls	8:16.09	6 SE/F	7:49.17	4 FF	7:52:59	1	30

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing.

Athlete	Events	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
David Dunford	Men's 50 m freestyle	22.29	20	Did not advance
Jason Dunford	Men's 100 m freestyle	49.06	24	Did not advance
	Men's 100 m butterfly	51.14	4	51.33	5	51.47	5

Taekwondo

Main articles: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics and Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Qualification

Two Kenyan Taekwondoka will compete at the 2008 olympics :

Men

Athlete	Event	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage Round 1	Repechage Bronze Medal	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result
Dickson Wamwiri	−58 kg	Chu (TPE) L 0-7	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage Round 1	Repechage Bronze Medal	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result
Milka Akinyi	−49 kg	Wu Jingyu (CHN) L 0-7	To Repechage		Zajc (SWE) W 2-2 (SUP)	Contreras (VEN) L 0-1	Did not advanced

See also

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

External links

• sports-reference