Eliud Kipchoge and Kenya’s Best Athletes at the Olympics As Omanyala Pursues Paris Gold
- Kenya boasts a history of producing several elite athletes who have claimed gold at the Olympic Games
- A number of Kenyan athletes, including Ferdinand Omanyala, are within touching distance of clinching gold medals at the Paris event
- Legit.ng shines the spotlight on a list of some of the most successful Kenyan athletes in the history of the Olympic Games
Kenya has often demonstrated that it has what it takes to clinch gold medals at the Olympic Games.
The East African nation currently leads the rest of the African continent in the number of Olympic medals and is poised to add more to its haul with the Paris Games ongoing.
Source: Getty Images
According to data from Olympiandatabase.com, the Kenyan national team has so far won 113 medals since their debut at the games in 1956.
In the ongoing 33rd edition of the Olympics, 100-metre sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, is one of the contenders for a medal. The 28-year-old has wasted no time showing his intent, qualifying with a time under 11 seconds.
As several Kenyan athletes chase medals in their respective events, Tuko.co.ke highlights the most successful Kenyan athletes in the history of the Olympics.
Most successful Kenyan athletes at the Olympics
Eliud Kipchoghe
The veteran marathoner is currently the most decorated athlete in the history of the East African nation at the Olympics.
Since making a splash in the 5000 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympics, this Kenyan marathoner has earned four medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze.
The 39-year-old became the first man to successfully defend his marathon title at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and he aspires to achieve a historic three-peat in Paris.
Kipchoge Keino
Kipchoge Keino is another esteemed figure in Kenyan athletics.
The retired runner distinguished himself in both middle and long-distance events.
Keino announced his arrival on the athletic stage by winning a silver medal in the 5000 metres and a gold in the 1500 metres at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Four years later, at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Keino added to his legacy with a gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase and a silver in the 1500 metres.
Ezekiel Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi is renowned for his excellence in the 3000-metre steeplechase.
He won his first Olympic gold in the event at the 2004 Athens Olympics, solidifying his dominance in the steeplechase.
Kemboi continued to shine by securing another gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
His distinctive running style and charismatic personality have made him a beloved figure among fans.
Faith Kipyegon
Faith Kipyegon has established herself as a powerhouse in middle-distance running.
She first captured global attention by winning Olympic gold in the 1500 metres at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, demonstrating her remarkable speed and tactical skill.
Kipyegon repeated this achievement at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cementing her reputation as one of the world's top middle-distance runners.
The 30-year-old aims to make another memorable appearance at the Olympics and has already qualified for the 5000-metre final at the ongoing Paris Games.
Omanyala qualifies for Olympics semi-final
Legit.ng in another report detailed that Kenyan sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, secured a place in the semi-final of the 100 meters at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
The 28-year-old finished first in his heat, ahead of Italian Chituru Ali. Omanyala is slated to participate in the semi-final scheduled for Sunday, August 4.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
