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2012 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
David Rudisha (800m) Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m SC)	Vivian Cheruiyot (5000m) Sally Kipyego (10,000m) Priscah Jeptoo (Marathon) Abel Kirui (Marathon)	Timothy Kitum (800m) Thomas Longosiwa (5000m) Abel Mutai(3000m SC) Vivian Cheruiyot(10,000m)

 

David Rudisha won gold in the 800m and in the process set a world record. It was described by experts as the best performance of the entire Olympics. He led from gun to tape. Timothy Kitum, who won bronze, was on 17 years old at the time

 

Ezekiel Kemboi won his second Olympic medal thus underlining his status as a legend. Then he proceeded to wow the crowd with dance moves. It was Kemboi's second gold medal after having won in 2004 and it underlined his status as a legend.

 

2008 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Pamel Jelimo (800m) Nancy Lagat (1500m) Wilfred Bungei (800m) Asbel Kiprop (1500m) Brimin Kipruto(3000m SC) Samuel Wanjiru (Marathon)	Janeth Jepkosgei 800m) Eunice Jepkorir (3000m SC) Catherine Ndereba (Marathon) Eliud Kipchoge (5000m)	Alfred Kirwa Yego (800m) Edwin Soi (5000m) Richard Mateelong(3000m SC) Micah Kogo (10,000m)

 

 

The six gold medal haul was at the time the highest ever by Kenya

 

Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei executed a Kenya 1-2 in the 800m. Jelimo became the first Kenyan woman ever to win Olympic gold. Jelimo took the world by storm as a precocious 19 year old, running with an unorthodox tactic or attacking the 400m to 600m section and building up an unasailable lead.

 

Nancy Lagat shocked everyone when she beat much more fancied runners like Maryam Jamal of Bahrain. Lagat took off at the back straight and no one had a response. The London media described her as a freight train. Lagat had shown a lot of promise as a teen, winning the world junior championships in 2000. However her senior career had been below expectations until she won gold in Beijing.

 

Wilfred Bungei won the 800m by leading from gun to tape. After leading for the entire race, Bungei had to work hard to hold off Ismail Mohamed of Sudan who was second, Kirwa Yego of Kenya who was third and Yusuf Saad Kamel (formerly Gregory Konchellah) who is the son of Kenyan legend Billy Konchellah.

Bungei had been the top 800m runner in the world since 2001. His personal best of 1:42.34 was the second fastest ever by an African and seventh fastest of all time. However despite dominating the European Grand Prix races, Bungei had never won gold in a major games. He was accused of being tactically naive. In fact after he won the Olympic qualifiers, he was written off by the media. At the 2008 Olympics however he finally came up with a race plan that enabled him to win his first ever gold medal.

 

 

One can make the argument that Samuel Wanjiru is the most talented marathoner Kenya has ever produced. As a junior, he showed a lot of promise. At age 18, he broke the world half marathon record. At age 19 he clocked 26:41.75 in the 10,000m one of the fastest times ever. And at the 2008 Olympics, he set an Olympic record in winning the marathon with an impressive time of 2:06.32 which was run under conditions of high heat and humidity. As he jogged into the stadium, the public address system played the classic song "Eswi yo Wapi" by Mbilia Bel.

 

Rashid Ramzi, a Moroccan representing Bahrain initially won the gold medal. But the medal was rescinded when his sample was retested a year later and exposed his drug use. Asbel Kiprop who initially finished second was given the gold medal.

 

 

2004 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Ezekiel Kemboi(3000m SC)	Bernard Lagat (1500m) Brimin Kipruto(3000m SC) Catherine Ndereba (Marathon) Isabella Ochichi (5000m)	Eliud Kipchoge (5000m) Paul Kipsiele Koech(3000m SC)

 

The Kenyan trio of Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele Koech, swept the podium in the 3000m steeplechase. It was Kenya's only gold medal at the 2004 Olympics which was likely the most EPO laden Olympics.

 

 

2000 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Noah Ngeny (1500m) Reuben Kosgei (3000m SC)	Wilson Boit Kipketer(3000m SC) Eric Wainaina (Marathon) Paul Tergat (10,000m)	Joyce Chepchumba (Marathon) Bernard Lagat (1500m)

 

Noah Ngeny shocked everyone when he upstaged Hicham El Guerrouj who was a strong favourite. El Guerrouj had beaten Kenyan to silver at the 1999 world champiuonships and was heavily favoured to win gold. At the time Ngeny was only 21 but a car accident curtailed his career in 2001. Bernard Lagat won the bronze medal.

 

Going into the 2000 Olympics. No one expected young Reuben Kosgei to win gold though he was the reigning world junior champion. Everyone expected either Wilson Boit Kipketer or Barnard Barmasai to win. Boit had won the world  championships in 1997 while Barmasai was the world record holder at the time. However Kosgei outsprinted Boit in the final 100 metres. The duo collided with 50 metres to go and Boit lost his momentum but still managed to finish second.

 

 

1996 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Joseph Keter(3000m SC)	Moses Kiptanui(3000m SC) Paul Bitok (5000m) Pauline Konga (5000m) Paul Tergat (10,000m)	Fred Onyancha (800m) Stephen Kipkorir (1500m) Eric Wainaina (Marathon)

 

Joseph Keter was the only gold medalist for Kenya who sorely missed Daniel Komen. In a twist of bad luck, Komen contracted malaria and thus could not participate in the Olympic trials. In 1996 he was the top 5000m runner and also set a world record in the 3000m which was still standing as 20 years later.

 

Joseph Keter (middle) surprised his more illustrious compatriot Moes Kiptanui (right) to win the 3000m steeplechase. Kiptanui had dominated the event for years, held the world record and was this expected to win gold.

 

Pauline Konga became the first Kenyan woman ever to win an Olympic medal when she won silver in the 5000m. She lost to Wang Junxia of China who was part of a group Chinese women (Mao's) army who were strongly suspected of doping. In 2016, Junxia admitted that in fact she was part of a state sponsored doping program. The gold medal should be awarded to Konga in the spirit of fairness.

 

1992 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
William Tanui (800m) Mathew Birir(3000m SC)	Nixon Kiprotich (800m) Patrick Sang(3000m SC) Paul Bitok (5000m) Richard Chelimo(10,000m)	Samson Kitur(400m) William Mutwol (3000m SC)

With only two gold medals, the 1992 Olympics were somewhat of a let down from the 5 gold medal haul of 1988. The most notable performance was that of Samson Kitur who won a bronze medal in the 400m. 24 years later, Kenya had not won a sprint medal at the Olympics.


In the 800 metres final, the American Johnny Gray had led for the entire race. That is until the last 100m when he was ambushed by the Kenyan duo of William Tanui and Nixon Kiprotich who went on to win gold and silver. It was fitting for Kiprotich to finally win a medal after sacrificing himself for the sake of the team in 1988


Mathew Birir led another memorable 1-2-3 finish for Kenya in the 3000m Steeplechase. Patrick Sang won silver and William Mutwol grabbed bronze. It is worth noting that the top steeplechaser of the 1992 season was Moses Kiptanui who somehow did not qualify.

Richard Chelimo was involved in a controversy in the 10,000m. He was initially awarded gold after a Moroccan was adjudged to have impeded Chelimo in order to benefit Khalid Skah, the gold medal winner. However the Moroccans appealed and Skah was given the gold medal.

 

 

1988 Olympics

 

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Paul Ereng (800m) Peter Rono (1500m) Julius Kariuki(3000m SC) John Ngugi (5000m) Robert Wangila (Welterweight, Boxing)	Peter Koech(3000m SC) Douglas Wakihuri (Marathon)	Christopher Sande (Light Middleweight, Boxing) Kipkemboi Kimeli (10,000m)

 

The five gold medal haul in 1988 was at the time the highest by Kenya.

 

In the men's 800m, Paul Ereng won in large part thanks to his team-mate Nixon Kiprotich who sacrificed himself by running a searing pace in the first lap to tire the field thus making it easy for Ereng with his strong finishing kick to win. No one gave Ereng a chance to win. He had barely qualified having finished 3rd at the Olympic trials. His times had not been impressive and even after he qualified, there were rumblings that Robert Kibet who had impressive times should be given the Olympic berth instead of Ereng.

 

In the end. Ereng not only won, but also beat a strong field that included Brazilian legend Joquim Cruz who had won the gold medal in 1984 and had run the second fastest 800, ever. He also beat strongly fancied Briton Peter Elliott and Moroccan legend Said Aouita.

 

 

In the men's 1500m  no one expected Peter Rono to win. At the time Rono was an uknown University student in the USA who had not run in any of the big Grand Prix races in Europe. He ran a masterful race, taking the lead halfway through the race, clinging to the inner lane and holding off anyone who tried to pass him.

 

In the 3000m steeplechase, Julius Kariuki who had finished 7th at the 1984 Olympics, finally came good and won gold, leading a Kenya 1-2 with Peter Koech.  Prior to the Olympics, Kariuki was involved in a car accident that almost derailed his Olympic prospects. He was helping one of his team-mates push a car after the battery had died. As they pushed it, the car rolled over Kariuki's foot causing an injury. Kariuki was limping for several days and was almost removed from the team. Luckily he recovered in time to win the gold medal.

 

In the 5000m, John Ngugi ran one of the most tactically astute races ever. Halfway through the race he took off and established a 30 metre lead. The rest of the pack did not follow, expecting Ngugi to tire himself out. But Ngugi managed to keep his lead until the end. Prior to the Olympics, Ngugi had been world cross country champion multiple times. But he had not been able to translate his cross country success to the track.  The favourite to win gold was Domingos Castro of Portugal who jokingly told Ngugi that he (Ngugi) would not win because he could only win when running in the bush

 

 

Robert Wangila became Kenya's first and only Olympic boxing gold medalist. He beat Frenchman Laurent Boudouani by technical knockout to win the welterweight gold. Chris Sande won bronze in the light middleweight berth.

 

1984 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Julius Korir(3000m SC)		Mike Musyoki (10,000m) Ibrahim Bilali (Flyweight Boxing)

Julius Korir, then a Kenya army soldier, won Kenya's only gold medal and signaled the re-emergence of Kenya as an athletics power after the country had missed two Olympics and performed poorly at the 1983 World Athletics Championships.

Mike Musyoki who initially finished fourth, was awarded the bronze medal after Marti Vainnio of Finland who had initially won silver, was busted for doping.

In boxing, 19 year old Ibrahim "Surf" Bilali won a bronze medal in the flyweight berth. It was the last time the young Bilali represented Kenya. he mysteriously faded into obscurity.

Two runners, Billy Konchellah and Joseph Chesire narrowly missed out on medals when they finished 4th in the 800m and 1500m respectively.

 

Boycotts

 

1980 Olympics: Kenya did not participate at the Olympics at the request of the USA which was boycotting to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

 

1976 Olympics: Kenya was part of the mass African boycott of the Olympics to protest the IOC decision not to ban New Zealand from participating in the Olympics because New Zealand continued to have sporting links with apartheid South Africa

 

The boycotts meant that the world did not see legendary Kenyan runner Henry Rono at the Olympics. Rono is perhaps the greatest track athlete never to run in the Olympics. In 1978 he set five world records and would surely have won gold in Moscow and possibly in Montreal.

 

A potential gold medalist who missed out on a chance at an Olympic medal was boxer Stephen Muchoki who had been world champion in 1978 and is arguably the best boxer Kenya has ever produced.

 

1972 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Kipchoge Keino(3000m SC) Charles Asati, Hezekiah Nyamau, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang (4 X 400m relay)	Kipchoge Keino (1500m) Ben Jipcho (3000m SC) Philip Waruinge (Featherweight, Boxing)	Julius Sang (400m) Mike Boit (800m) Samuel Mbugua (Lightweight, Boxing) Dick Tiger Murunga (Welterweight Boxing)

 

The Kenyan 4 X 400m quartet, which had won the silver medal in 1968, won gold this time, taking advantage of the absence of the Americans who pulled out due to injuries. At the final exchange, Kenya and Great Britain were virtually even, but Julius Sang  (pictured above) ran the anchor leg in a blistering 43.5 for Kenya to seal the victory.

 

 

The tireless Kipchoge Keino won the 3000m steeplechase, an event he had never specialized in this event and despite his unusual hurdling style.  No other person has won a major steeplchase event using Kipchoge's unorthodox hurdling style.

 

 

In the 1500m, Keino was denied gold by Pekka Vassala of Finland. Vassala along with Lasse Viren who won the 5000m and 10,000m were known as the flying Finns. The Finns were later accused of blood doping, a technique which was pioneered and Finland.

 

1968 Olympics

 

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Kipchoge Keino (1500m) Naftali Temu (10,000m) Amos Biwott (3000m SC)	Charles Asati, Daniel Rudisha, Naftali Bon , Munyoro Nyamau(4 X 400m relay) Kipchoge Keino (5000m) Benjamin Kogo (3000m SC) Wilson Kiprugut (800m)	Naftali Temu (5000m) Philip Waruinge (Featherweight, Boxing)

 

 

Naftali Temu became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal when he outsprinted Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia in the last 50 metres. . Four days later he won a bronze in the 10,000m.

 

 

Kipchoge Keino ran a masterful tactical race to win the 1500m. He outwitted the American Jim Ryun by setting a searing pace for the last two laps. Given the high altitude of Mexico city, many thought Kipchoge's tactic was suicidal. However Kipchoge knew that the only way to beat Ryun was to set a torrid pace in order to neutralize Ryun's strong finishing kick which he had used to beat Kipchoge several times before.

 

Gold medalists from the 1968 Olympics posing with President Jomo Kenyatta. Between Kenyatta and Mama Ngina is Kipchoge Keino. Next to Kenyatta is Daniel Rudisha and Naftali Temu. In the front row are members of the hockey team who finished 8th out of 16 teams.

 

1964 Olympics:

This was Kenya's first Olympiad after gaining independence. Wilson Kiprugut Chuma became the first Kenyan ever to win an Olympic medal when he won the bronze medal in the 800m. He also participated in the 400m where he reached the second round.  The other Kenyan in the 800m was Peter Francis who was eliminated in round 1.

Kipchoge Keino reached the semi-finals of the 1500m. In the 5000m, he reached the finals where he finished 5th.

Chrisantus Nyakwayo and Naftali Temu participated in the marathon finishing 45th and 49th respectively.

 

Medal Totals

 

		Gold	Silver	Bronze	Totals
	Tokyo 1964	0	0	1	1
	Mexico City 1968	3	4	2	9
	Munich 1972	2	3	4	9
	Los Angeles 1984	1	0	2	3
	Seoul 1988	5	2	2	9
	Barcelona 1992	2	4	2	8
	Atlanta 1996	1	4	3	8
	Sydney 2000	2	3	2	7
	Athens 2004	1	4	2	7
	Beijing 2008	6	5	4	15
	London 2012	2	4	4	10
	Total	25	33	28	86

 

 

 

2012 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

David Rudisha (800m)

Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m SC)

Abel Kirui (Marathon)

Vivian Cheruiyot (5000m)

Sally Kipyego (10,000m)

Priscah Jeptoo (Marathon)

Timothy Kitum (800m)

Thomas Longosiwa (5000m)

Abel Mutai (3000m SC)

Vivian Cheruiyot (10,000m)

Julius Yego reached the Javelin final and finished 12th with a toss of 77.15m

 

 

Rudisha broke the world record in the course of winning the 800m

2008 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Wilfred Bungei (800m)

Asbel Kipruto (1500m)

Brimin Kipruto (3000m SC)

Samuel Wanjiru (Marathon)

Pamela Jelimo (800m)

Nancy Jebet Lagat (1500m)

Janeth Jepkosgei (800m)

Eunice Jepkorir (3000m SC)

Catherine Ndereba (800m)

Eliud Kipchoge (5000m)

Alfred Kirwa Yego (800m)

Edwin Soi (5000m)

Micah Kogo (10,000m)

Richard Mateelong (3000m SC)

Bungei had been a perennial winner in the grand prix circuit but had never won championship gold

 

The dimunitive Sammy Wanjiru set an Olympic record and became the first Kenyan ever to win the Olympic marathon

2004 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m SC)

Brimin Kipruto (3000m SC)

Catherine Ndereba (800m)

Isabella Ochichi (5000m)

Bernard Lagat (1500m)

 

Eliud Kipchoge (5000m)

Paul Kipsiele Koech (3000m)

 

Ezekiel Kemboi led a memorable Kenya 1-2-3 finish

2000 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Noah Ngeny (1500m)

Reuben Kosgei (3000m SC)

Wilson Boit Kipketer (3000m SC)

Paul Tergat (10,000m)

Eric Wainaina (Marathon)

Bernard Lagat (1500m)

Joyce Chepchumba (Marathon)

 

Noah Ngeny ambushed Hicham El Guerrouj over the last 20 metres to pass him for the 1500m gold. The talented Ngeny however saw his promising career cut short by a hip injury

 

1996 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Noah Ngeny (1500m)

Joseph Keter (3000m SC)

Paul Bitok (5000m)

Paul Tergat (10,000m)

Pauline Konga (5000m)

Moses Kiptanui (3000m SC)

Fred Onyancha (800m)

Stephen Kipkorir (1500m)

Eric Wainaina (Marathon)

 

Pauline Konga became the first Kenyan woman ever to win an Olympic medal with a silver in the 5000m

1992 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

William Tanui (800m)

Mathew Birir (3000m SC)

Nixon Kiprotich (800m)

Paul Bitok (5000m)

Richard Chelimo (10,000m)

Patrick Sang (3000m SC)

Samson Kitur (400m)

William Mutwol (3000m SC)

 

 

William Tanui (left) and Nixon Kiprotich ambushed pre-race favorite Johny Gray and passed him in the last 50 meters. Meanwhile Mathew Birir led a memorable Kenya 1-2-3 finish in the steeplechase

1988 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Paul Ereng (800m)

Julius Kariuki (3000m SC)

John Ngugi (5000m)

Peter Rono (1500m)

Robert Wangila (welterweight boxing)

Peter Koech (3000m SC)

Douglas Wakihuri (Marathon)

Chris Sande (light Middleweight, boxing)

Kipkemoi Kimeli (10,000m)

Nixon Kiprotich set a searing pace in the opening lap of the 800m a pace that suited Paul Ereng who came from the back of the field to win.

Perfect teamwork and commendable performance by Kiprotich who was one of the favourites but sacrificed himself for the team

Douglas Wakihuri became the first Kenyan to win a marathon medal

 

 

Peter Rono shocked the world by beating massive favourite Peter Elliott, Jens Peter Herold and Steve Cram to win the mens 1500m.

Rono was an unknown who came from nowhere to win Olympic gold. However as quickly as he emerged on the scene, he also dissappeared from the track and was never seen again.

1984 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Julius Korir (3000m SC)

 

Ibrahim Bilali (flyweight, boxing)

Mike Musyoki (10,000m)

 

 

Julius "Mkulima" Korir won an unexpected gold medal 1984 . No one expected Kenya to win any medals in 1984 considering that at the

1983 world championships, they never came close to winning any medals

 

1980 Olympics: Kenya did not participate at the Olympics at the request of the USA which was boycotting to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

 

1976 Olympics: Kenya was part of the mass African boycott of the Olympics to protest the IOC decision not to ban New Zealand from participating in the Olympics because New Zealand continued to have sporting links with apartheid South Africa

1972 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Kipchoge Keino (3000m SC)

4 X 400m (Charles Asati,

Hezekiah Nyamau,

Robert Ouko, Julius Sang)

Kipchoge Keino (1500m)

Ben Jipcho (3000m SC)

Julius Sang (400m)

Mike Boit (800m)

 

 

Kip Keino and Pekka Vassala of Finland had a memorable photo finish in the 1500m

1968 Olympics

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Kipchoge Keino (1500m)

Naftali Temu (10,000m)

Amos Biwott (3000m SC)

Wilson Kiprugut Chuma (800m)

Kipchoge Keino (5000m)

Benjamin Kogo (3000m SC)

4 X 400m (Daniel Rudisha,

Hezekiah Nyamau,

Naftali Bon,

Charles Asati)

Naftali Temu (5000m)

 

Naftali Temu became the first Kenyan ever to win Olympic gold

 

1964 Olympics: Wilson Kiprugut Chuma became the first Kenyan ever to win an Olympic medal when he won the bronze medal in the 800m