Kenya's hits and misses at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
![Kenya's hits and misses at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Kenya's hits and misses at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/130907/conversions/AFP__20240805__36AY4BB__v1__HighRes__AthleticsOlyParis2024-og_image.webp)
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet crosses the finish line ahead of Kenya's Faith Kipyegon in the women's 5000m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
Kenya's
performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games marked a notable improvement, with the country securing 11 medals; four gold, two silver, and five bronze
This impressive
showing ensured Kenya in 17th place in the overall rankings and topped the African continent.
Alongside the slight improvement from the last edition in Tokyo, Kenya
managed to defend two titles, while missing out of some medals to the chagrin of mane fans.
that Kenya
managed to defend and some that they did not achieve compared to the Tokyo
Olympics.
Faith
Kipyegon, 1500m Olympic and world champion, continued her dominance in
middle-distance race, defending her women’s 1500m title
for the second successive time and bagging it for the
third time in a row. She not only won gold but also set a new Olympic record.
In the 5000m
race, Kipyegon secured a silver medal, which had been won by Hellen Obiri in
Tokyo.
Another golden moment for Kenya came through Beatrice
Chebet, made history as the first Kenyan to win Olympic gold in the
women’s 10,000m race and further showcased her talent by clinching another gold in the
5000m race.
Emmanuel
Wanyonyi, making his Olympic debut, defended Kenya’s title in the men’s 800m men’s race, a feat previously achieved by Emmanuel Korir in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Kenya has now
successfully defended its men’s 800m title
for a record five consecutive Olympic Games.
Kenya is yet
to regain its dominance in the steeplechase races but managed to win bronze in
the race through Abraham Kibiwot and 20-year-old Faith Cherotich.
In the men’s
marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, was unable to defend his
title and make it three-peat, as he did not finish the race for the first time in his career.
However, Benson Kipruto spared Kenya the blushes and
bagged the country the only podium position in the men’s marathon by finishing third and taking
home the bronze medal.
In the
women’s category, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, Peres Jepchirchir, also failed
in her title defence attempt as she finished 15th in Paris.
Hellen Obiri,
a two-time 5000m Olympics silver medalist, managed to secure a bronze medal on her
marathon debut at the Summer Games.
The men’s
1500m race saw Kenya fall short of a medal, despite having two participants in
the final.
Overall, Kenya's
performance in Paris highlighted the need to nurture and develop young talents
and embrace new technology in terms of facilities and equipment, in order to maintain its status
as a powerhouse in middle and long-distance running.
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