Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Kenya at the
2008 Summer Olympics
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 6 Silver 4 Bronze 6 Total 16
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

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

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

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
Athlete	Event	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
Athlete	Event	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	800 m	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	3000 m steeplechase	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

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
Athlete	Event	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

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

Men

Athlete	Event	Heats		Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Final
Athlete	Event	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

Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing.^[6]

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
Athlete	Event	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
Jason Dunford	100 m butterfly	51.14	4 Q	51.33	5 Q	51.47	5

Taekwondo

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

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