# Kenya at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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:

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Vincent Mumo Kiilu | 400 m | 46.79 | 7 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Wilfred Bungei | 800 m | 1:44.90 | 1 Q | 1:46.23 | 1 Q | 1:44.65 SB | |
| Boaz Kiplagat Lalang | 800 m | 1:45.72 | 2 Q | 1:45.87 | 3 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Alfred Yego | 800 m | 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 | 1500 m | 3:41.28 | 1 Q | 3:37.04 | 1 Q | 3:33.11 | |
| Nicholas Kemboi | 1500 m | 3:41.56 | 11 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Eliud Kipchoge | 5000 m | 13:37.50 | 2 Q | — | — | 13:02.80 | |
| Thomas Longosiwa | 5000 m | 13:41.30 | 4 Q | — | — | 13:31.34 | 12 |
| Edwin Soi | 5000 m | 13:46.41 | 1 Q | — | — | 13:06.22 | |
| Micah Kogo | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 27:04.11 SB | |
| Moses Ndiema Masai | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 27:04.11 SB | 4 |
| Martin Mathathi | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 27:08.25 PB | 7 |
| Ezekiel Kemboi | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:17.55 | 4 Q | — | — | 8.16.38 | 7 |
| Brimin Kipruto | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:23.53 | 2 Q | — | — | 8.10.34 SB | |
| Richard Matelong | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:19.87 | 2 Q | — | — | 8.11.01 | |
| Luke Kibet | Marathon | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF |
| Martin Lel | Marathon | — | — | — | — | 2:10:24 | 5 |
| Samuel Wanjiru | Marathon | — | — | — | — | 2:06:32 OR | |
| David Kimutai | 20 km walk | — | — | — | — | 1:22:21 | 19 |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Elizabeth Muthuka | 400 m | DNS | DNS | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 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 | Did not advance |
| Viola Kibiwot | 1500 m | 4:15.62 | 5 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Nancy Lagat | 1500 m | 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 | 5000 m | 14:58.07 | 4 Q | — | — | 15:51.78 | 11 |
| Sylvia Kibet | 5000 m | 15:10.37 | 2 Q | — | — | 15:44.96 | |
| Peninah Arusei | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 31:39.87 | 18 |
| Linet Masai | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 30:26.50 | |
| Lucy Wangui | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 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 | Marathon | — | — | — | — | 2:29:28 | 10 |
| Catherine Ndereba | Marathon | — | — | — | — | 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. 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 | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Bernard Ngumba | Flyweight | Doniyorov (UZB) L 1–10 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Nick Okoth | Featherweight | Reyes (MEX) L 2–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Aziz Ali | Light heavyweight | Muzaffer (TUR) L 3–8 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Rowing

A sole Kenyan rower has qualified for the Olympics:

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Matthew Lidaywa Mwange | Single sculls | 8:16.09 | 6 SE/F | Bye | Bye | 7:49.17 | 4 FF | 7:52:59 | 30 |

## Swimming

Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| David Dunford | 50 m freestyle | 22.29 | 20 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jason Dunford | 100 m freestyle | 49.06 | 24 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 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:
| Athlete | Event | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Bronze Medal | Final | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Mildred Alango | Women's −49 kg | Wu Jy (CHN) L 0–7 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Zajc (SWE) W 2–2 SUP | Contreras (VEN) L 0–1 | Did not advance | 5 |