Olympic history of Kenya
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 38 | 31 |
Kenya , whose NOK , the National Olympic Committee Kenya , was founded in 1955, first took part in the 1956 Summer Olympics. With the exception of the boycotted games in 1976 and 1980, the NOK sent athletes to each of the following summer games. Philip Boit also took part in the Winter Games in 1998, 2002 and 2006 as the only Kenyan starter.
With 93 medals won, the track and field athletes are the most successful Olympic athletes in the country. The 3,000-meter obstacle course runners, who have been the Olympic champions since 1984, stand out in particular. Kenyan boxers contributed seven medals to the medal table. Winter sports enthusiasts have so far been left empty-handed.
Overview
1956 to 1968
Kenya's first Olympic team at the Melbourne Games in 1956 consisted of 25 athletes, including the men's national hockey team. There were other active athletes in athletics, shooting sports and swimming. The first Olympians for Kenya were on November 23, 1956, in addition to the hockey players used, the high jumper Joseph Leresae and the 800-meter runner Kiptalam Keter. Six days later, swimmer Margaret Northrop became the first Kenyan woman to take part. In athletics, two athletes qualified for a final. Leresae was 18th in the high jump competition, over 5000 meters Nyandika Maiyoro came in seventh.
In 1960 in Rome , Kenyan sailors took part for the first time. Like four years before, Maiyoro made it into the 5000 meter final. This time it reached number 6.
Kenyan boxers competed for the first time in Tokyo in 1964 . For the third time in a row a Kenyan was able to qualify for the final over 5000 m. This time it was Kipchoge Keino who finished 5th. Wilson Kiprugut was the first medalist in Kenya. In the final over 800 m he won the bronze medal.
1968 in Mexico City there was the first Olympic victory to be celebrated. Naftali Temu won the 10,000 meter race on October 13, 1968, and he also won bronze over 5000 meters. There were two other Olympic victories in athletics. Kipchoge Keino won over 1500 meters, plus silver over 5000 meters. Amos Biwott won gold in the 3000 meter obstacle course in front of his teammate Benjamin Kogo . Silver won the 400-meter relay and Wilson Kiprugut over 800 meters. Further finals were 7th place over 800 meters by Thomas Saisi and 10th place over 1500 meters by Ben Jipcho . In boxing, Philip Waruinge won bronze at featherweight, while bantamweight Samuel Mbugua failed in the quarter-finals against eventual winner Valerian Sokolow from the Soviet Union.
1972 to 1988
1972 in Munich was also successful for the Kenyan team. In addition to silver, Kipchoge Keino also won gold over 1500 meters in the 3000 meter obstacle course in front of his teammate Ben Jipcho. So to this day (2017), Keino is the most successful Olympian in Kenya. Defending champion Amos Biwott finished sixth. The 400-meter relay also won, relay member Julius Sang also took bronze over 400 meters, Charles Asati came fourth. Mike Boit ran 800 meters to bronze. Robert Ouko , also runner of the winning relay, finished fifth over 800 meters, while Paul Mose finished 13th over 10,000 meters. The boxing relay was also successful. Philip Waruinge won silver in featherweight, Samuel Mbugua bronze, this time in lightweight. Richard Murunga also won bronze in the welterweight division.
Kenya stayed away from the following two Olympic Games, in Montreal in 1976 and in Moscow in 1980 . It followed the boycott calls of the African countries (1976) and the USA (1980).
A Kenyan weightlifter was used for the first time in Los Angeles in 1984 . There were medals in athletics and boxing. Julius Korir won the race over 3000 meters obstacle, here Julius Kariuki finished seventh. Michael Musyoki ran over 10,000 meters for the bronze medal, Sostenes Bitok finished sixth, Joseph Nzau fourteenth. There were also three finalists over 5000 meters. Paul Kipkoech was 5th, Charles Cheruiyot 6th and Wilson Waigwa 10th. In the 1500 meter race, Joseph Chesire came fourth, as did Billy Konchellah over 800 meters. Here Edwin Koech took 6th place. There was also a finalist in the women's category. Ruth Waithera was eighth over 400 meters. The boxer Ibrahim Bilali won bronze in the flyweight.
In Seoul in 1988 , the Kenyan selection was the most successful so far. Olympic victories by Paul Ereng over 800 meters, Peter Rono over 1500 meters, Julius Kariuki over 3000 meters obstacle and John Ngugi over 5000 meters reflected the Kenyan dominance in the middle distance range. Peter Koech also won silver over the 3000 meter obstacle, where Patrick Sang came in seventh. There was also silver in the marathon by Douglas Wakiihuri . Kipkemboi Kimeli won bronze over 10,000 meters, here Moses Tanui came eighth. Further finalists were Nixon Kiprotich in 8th place over 800 meters, Kipkoech Cheruiyot in 7th place and Joseph Chesire in 11th place over 1500 meters, Yobes Ondieki in 12th place over 5000 meters and the 400-meter relay in 8th place. Welterweight boxer Robert Wangila contributed the fifth Olympic victory, Christopher Sande won bronze in the middleweight division. For the first time there were judoka and wrestlers from Kenya.
1992 to 2000
In 1992 in Barcelona all medals were won by athletes. Kenya celebrated a total triumph over the 3000 meter obstacle. The winner was Matthew Birir ahead of Patrick Sang and William Mutwol . Two medals were won over 800 meters. William Tanui won ahead of Nixon Kiprotich . Silver medals were won over 5000 meters by Paul Bitok and 10,000 meters by Richard Chelimo . Samson Kitur won another bronze medal in the 400-meter run.
Also in Atlanta in 1996 only athletes could win medals. Joseph Keter ensured the fourth Kenyan victory in a row over 3000 meters obstacle. Moses Kiptanui also won silver here. Paul Bitok won his second silver medal in a row over 5000 meters, Paul Tergat won silver over 10,000 meters. Bronze went to Frederick Onyancha over 800 meters, Stephen Kipkorir over 1500 meters and Erick Wainaina in the marathon. Pauline Konga was the first Kenyan woman to win a medal. She won silver over 5000 meters. For the first time Kenyan archers took part in the Olympic tournament.
Cross-country skier Philip Boit was the first Kenyan winter athlete to participate in the Olympic Games. In the 10 km race in Nagano in 1998 , he crossed the finish line in 92nd place. There he was greeted with a handshake by the winner, the Norwegian Bjørn Dæhlie , and encouraged to continue.
In addition to the women's national volleyball team, a Kenyan cyclist took part for the first time in Sydney in 2000 . As in 1992 and 1996, all medal winners came from athletics. Reuben Kosgei achieved the fifth victory in a row in the 3000 meter obstacle course ahead of Wilson Boit Kipketer . Noah Ngeny won over 1500 meters, bronze went to Bernard Lagat . Paul Tergat won his second silver medal in a row over 10,000 meters. Erick Wainaina also won silver in the marathon. Joyce Chepchumba won bronze in the women's marathon .
2002 until today
In 2002 in Salt Lake City , Philip Boit was the only Kenyan to run again. The athletes won seven medals in Athens in 2004 . Ezekiel Kemboi triumphed over 3000 meters in front of Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele Koech . Silver went to Bernard Lagat over 1500 meters, Isabella Ochichi over 5000 meters and Catherine Ndereba in the marathon. There was also a bronze medal from Eliud Kipchoge over 5000 meters.
Philip Boit completed his third participation in the Olympic Games in Turin in 2006, while the athletes in Beijing in 2008 ensured the most successful result of a Kenyan team to date. Brimin Kipruto achieved the seventh victory in a row over the 3000 meter obstacle, bronze went to Richard Mateelong . There were five more Olympic victories. Wilfred Bungei won the 800 meters, bronze went to Alfred Yego . Asbel Kiprop won the 1500 meter run, Samuel Wanjiru won the marathon. Pamela Jelimo made her first Olympic victory over 800 meters. Here Janeth Businei won the silver medal. Nancy Langat celebrated another Olympic victory over 1500 meters. Silver won Eliud Kipchoge over 5000 meters, Eunice Kertich in the over 3000 meter obstacle and Catherine Ndereba in the marathon. There were also bronze medals from Edwin Soi over 5000 meters and Micah Kogo over 10,000 meters. It was the first time that a Kenyan rower and two Taekwondoin were present at the Olympic Games.
The track and field athletes were also successful in medals in London in 2012 . The eighth Kenyan victory in a row over the 3000 meter obstacle was achieved by the 2004 winner, Ezekiel Kemboi . Abel Mutai won bronze in this race. David Rudisha celebrated another Olympic victory over 800 meters, Timothy Kitum won bronze. In the marathon there was silver from Abel Kirui and bronze from Wilson Kipsang . Vivian Cheruiyot also won silver over 5000 meters. She also won bronze over 10,000 meters. Silver also went to Priscah Jeptoo in the marathon and Sally Kipyego over 10,000 meters. Thomas Longosiwa also won a bronze medal in the 5000 meter run.
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games were even more successful for the Kenyan athletes than in 2008 . Conseslus Kipruto achieved the ninth Kenyan victory in a row over 3000 meters obstacle. Both marathons were won. The winner in the men was Eliud Kipchoge , in the women it was Jemima Sumgong . David Rudisha was able to repeat his Olympic victory from London over 800 meters. In the women’s category, Faith Kipyegon also won over 1500 meters and Vivian Cheruiyot over 5000 meters, here Hellen Obiri won silver. Cheruiyot also won silver in the 10,000 meter run. In the men's discipline, Paul Tanui also won silver. The javelin thrower Julius Yego , the 400-meter hurdler Boniface Tumuti and Hyvin Kiyeng won further silver medals in the women's 3000-meter obstacle race. A bronze medal by Margaret Wambui over 800 meters was added. A Kenyan men's team also competed at the Olympic premiere of Rugby Sevens in Rio de Janeiro .
The ski racer Sabrina Simader became the first Kenyan woman to take part in the winter games in Pyeongchang in 2018.
Kenyan athletes abroad
Several Kenyan athletes have left their homeland and started for other nations in the Olympic Games. Well-known examples include Wilson Kipketer , who emigrated to Denmark and started for this country in 1990. He won silver in Sydney and bronze in Athens over 800 meters for Denmark. Bernard Lagat won bronze in Kenya in 2000 and silver in the 1500 meter run in 2004. He has been working for the USA since 2005.
At the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, around 20 Kenyan-born athletes took part who competed for other nations. B. Rose Chelimo and Eunice Kirwa (marathon), Ruth Jebet (3000 m obstacle), Albert Rop (5000 m), Abraham Cheroben (10,000 m) and John Koech (3000 m obstacle), all of whom started for Bahrain.
IOC members
Paul Tergat , three-time Olympian and two-time medalist, has been an IOC member since 2013 . Kipchoge Keino , also a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic champion, became an IOC member in 2000 and has been an honorary member since 2010.
Overview of the participants
Summer games
| year | Athletes | Flag bearer | sports | Medals | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| total | m | w |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_pictogram.svg){kind=small}
|
_pictogram.svg){kind=small}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
total | rank | ||
| 1896-1952 | not participated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1956 | 25th | 24 | 1 | 9 | 14th | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1960 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1964 | 37 | 37 | 0 | Seraphino Antao | 11 | 15th | 4th | 1 | 4th | 1 | 1 | 35 | ||||||||||||
| 1968 | 39 | 36 | 3 | 18th | 14th | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4th | 2 | 9 | 14th | ||||||||||||
| 1972 | 57 | 55 | 2 | Kipchoge Keino | 22nd | 18th | 9 | 8th | 2 | 3 | 4th | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||
| 1976-1980 | not participated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | 61 | 56 | 5 | James Omondi | 32 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 23 | |||||||||||
| 1988 | 74 | 70 | 4th | Patrick Waweru | 33 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 4th | 4th | 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 13 | ||||||||
| 1992 | 49 | 40 | 9 | Patrick Sang | 38 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4th | 2 | 8th | 21st | ||||||||||
| 1996 | 52 | 42 | 10 | Paul Tergat | 43 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4th | 3 | 8th | 38 | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 56 | 34 | 22nd | Kennedy Ochieng | 36 | 2 | 4th | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7th | 29 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 46 | 22nd | 24 | Violet Barasa | 31 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4th | 2 | 7th | 41 | |||||||||||
| 2008 | 46 | 28 | 18th | Grace Momanyi | 37 | 2 | 4th | 1 | 2 | 6th | 4th | 4th | 14th | 13 | ||||||||||
| 2012 | 47 | 27 | 20th | Jason Dunford | 45 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4th | 6th | 12 | 28 | |||||||||||
| 2016 | 80 | 48 | 32 | Shehzana Anwar | 48 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 6th | 6th | 1 | 13 | 15th | ||||||||
| total | 31 | 38 | 31 | 100 | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||
Winter games
| year | Athletes | Flag bearer | sports | Medals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| total | m | w |
|
|
|
|
|
total | rank | ||
| 1924-1994 | not participated | ||||||||||
| 1998 Nagano | 1 | 1 | 0 | Philip Boit | 1 | ||||||
| 2002 Salt Lake City | 1 | 1 | 0 | Philip Boit | 1 | ||||||
| 2006 Turin | 1 | 1 | 0 | Philip Boit | 1 | ||||||
| 2010-2014 | not participated | ||||||||||
| 2018 Pyeongchang | 1 | 0 | 1 | Sabrina Simader | 1 | ||||||
| total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ||||||
List of medal winners
Gold medals
Silver medals
Bronze medals
Medals by sport
| sport | gold | silver | bronze | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| athletics | 30th | 37 | 26th | 93 |
| Boxing | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7th |
| total | 31 | 38 | 31 | 100 |
Web link
- Kenya in the database of Sports-Reference (English; archived from the original )
- Kenya on Olympic.org - The Official website of the Olympic movement (English)
