Kenya at the Olympics
Kenya made their debut in the Summer Games with a delegation consisting of 24 male and 1 female athletes to Melbourne, Australia in 1956. Since their debut in 1956, Kenya has participated in most of the Summer Games missing only the boycotted Summer Olympics in 1976 and 1980. But their athletes have been performing quite well in athletics snatching medals left and right in many occasions. They are indeed considered as one of the best in the world for athletics.
Although relatively impressive, Kenyan athletes were not successful in winning an Olympic medal in their first outing. However, in the 1964 Summer Games which was held in Tokyo, Japan, runner Wilson Kiprugut was able to win the bronze in the men's 800 meters hence becoming the first Kenyan Olympic medalist.
This is definitely a historic feat but in 1968, three Kenyan athletes gave their country its first taste of Olympic gold. Kipchoge Keino (men's 1500 meters), Naftali Temu (men's 10000 meters), and Amos Biwott (men's 3000 meter steeplechase) all put Kenya in the map for the Summer Games. As a matter of fact, Kenya won a total of 9 Olympic medals that year that included Wilson Kiprugut's improved performance that garnered him the silver in the same event making him Kenya's first-ever Olympic multi-medalist.
Trivia
- Kenyan born distance runner Bernard Lagat is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 games. In 2016, he was joined at the Games by his sister Viola Lagat representing Kenya.
Related Pages
- Kenya at the Winter Olympics
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Kenya
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