Ruto, Raila lead Kenyans in celebrating Korir after clinching first gold

Kenyans were on Wednesday united in celebrating African silver medalist Emmanuel Korir after he clinched Kenya's first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics when he won the men's 800m final. 

Korir clocked 1:45.06 to finish ahead of compatriot Ferguson Rotich (1:45.23) and Polish Patryk Dobek (1:45.39) in second and third respectively. 

Korir surged forward past Dobek and Australian Peter Bol at the sound of the bell and held on for a first medal at a global championship. 

Deputy president William Ruto and ODM party leader Raila Odinga led Kenyans in celebrating.

"There it is! Team Kenya's first Gold medal! Congratulations to Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich for a phenomenal 1-2 finish in the men's 800m," Ruto said.

He added:"You have made the nation happy."

Raila said Korir and Rotich had a tactical run and strong finish.

"...congratulations Emmanuel Korir on winning the 800m Olympic Gold Medal and Ferguson Rotich on taking the Silver Medal. The Entire Nation is proud of you both. Well in!' he said.

Homa Bay woman rep Gladys Wanga also sent his Congratulations.

"Emmanuel Korir on bagging the 800m Olympic Gold Medal and Ferguson Rotich on taking the Silver. We are immensely proud of you," she said.

Here are others;

His victory was made sweeter by the fact that he had been eliminated on Monday from the preliminary round of the men's 400m after a false start. 

On his part, Rotich, the world bronze medalist, started rather sluggishly and at one point seemed to be running out of steam as all the other runners put on the nitro-burners in the last lap. 

However, the fastest man in the semis summoned all his strength to push past Bol and the Dobek —just when it seemed the Pole would be taking silver. 

Two days ago, Kenya lost it's crown in the men's 3000m steeplechase.

Although Benjamin Kigen's bronze medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase ended Kenya's medal drought at the Tokyo Olympics, it still hurt for the country to lose the steeplechase crown it has held since 1968. 

With the exception of the 1976 and 1980 Olympics in Moscow and Montreal respectively, Kenyan runners have always clinched gold in every 3000m steeplechase race at the quadrennial event. 

The new Olympic champion, Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali was an elated man, glad to have finally broken the Kenyan dominance after trying on several occasions with no success. 

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he finished a disappointing fourth in a race won by immediate former champion, Conseslus Kipruto. 

It was a similar storyline in the women's 5000m as Hellen Obiri's best efforts in the last lap were no match for Dutchwoman's Sifan Hassan monstrous kick to the finish line. 

The Ethiopian-born 5km road race world record holder had lagged behind the leading pack for most of the 12-and-a-half lap race.

Edited by CM