•Forty-three athletes have already punched tickets to the French capital for the premier quadrennial global showpiece after gaining the qualification credentials.
•Other than the seven medals Kenya has bagged in boxing, the remaining titles emanate from the sublime performance recorded in track and course events.
Kenya will be eyeing a medal haul at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games scheduled to run from July to August.
Forty-three athletes have already punched tickets to the French capital for the premier quadrennial global showpiece after gaining the qualification credentials.
All is not lost though for prospective Olympiads, who are yet to meet the threshold. There is still a window of opportunity for more Kenyan athletes to secure the coveted berths.
Kenya’s final ensemble will be unveiled after the national athletics trials in mid-June. Hats off to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) and Athletics Kenya for hammering away indefatigable to lay the ground for a successful Team Kenya outing.
Founded on February 14, 1955, and recognized by the International Olympic Committee at the IOC session in Paris, on June 17 of the same year, NOCK has been a key pillar in the nation’s success narrative.
The organisation has ensured the seamless participation of Kenyan teams at all Games since 1956 when the East African athletics powerhouse made its Olympic debut. Kenya only missed out on the competition in 1976 and 1980. To date, Kenya has tucked away 113 Olympic medals — 35 gold since 1956.
Other than the seven medals Kenya has bagged in boxing, the remaining titles emanate from the sublime performance recorded in track.
With two gold and two silver to his credit, the legendary Kip Keino headlines the stellar roster of Kenyan icons who have largely contributed to the country’s rich trophy heritage at the Games.
Double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge equally carved himself a niche in the Hall of Fame after securing two golds in the Olympic marathon as well as a silver and a bronze in the 5,000 metres.
Other athletes who deserve recognition include Vivian Cheruiyot who managed a gold, two silver and one bronze in the various editions of the Games, and Ezekiel Kemboi who blazed to two gold medals in the men’s 3,000 metres during the 2004 and 2012 Games.
The special list of high achievers also includes David Rudisha who clinched the men’s 800 metres titles in 2012 and 2016 and Faith Kipyegon who stormed to the gold medal in 2016 and 2020, in the women’s 1,500 metrs.
It is encouraging to note the nation’s spirited efforts in bringing other sports to par with athletics. Alexandria Ndolo will be flying the nation’s flag at the women’s fencing competition.
Gladly, both the Kenya Sevens men’s rugby team have also sealed their slot at the 2024 Paris Games.
The women’s Sevens rugby team will seek to nail a qualification berth at the Olympics Repechage competition in Monaco from June 13 to 21.
Also in contention for an Olympic Games slot are the Kenya women’s 3x3 basketball team which is currently holding a residential training camp in Miramas, France, ahead of the final qualification battle in Japan later in the month.
We all hope for an improved performance from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where Kenya emerged as the best African nation and 19th overall after clinching 10 medals (four gold, four silver, and two bronze) in athletics.
During the Tokyo Games, Emmanuel Korir and Faith Kipyegon bagged gold for the nation in the men’s 800m and women’s 1,500m respectively with Peres Jepchirchir and Eliud Kipchoge also sealing the marathon titles.
Hellen Obiri (5,000m), Ferguson Rotich (800m), Timothy Cheruiyot (1,500m), and Brigid Kosgei (marathon) secured silver while Hyvin Kiyeng and Benjamin Kigen settled for bronze in the water and barrier race.
There is every reason for Kenyan sports enthusiasts to expect more from the contingent that will hold a brief for the nation in the French capital.
The men’s and women’s marathon teams unveiled last month boast a stellar roster of high achievers including Jepchirchir and Obiri who set the season in motion with morale-boosting triumphs at the London and Boston marathons respectively.
We are also expecting master class acts from the Tokyo Olympics marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and the new kid on the block Alexander Mutiso who bagged the 2024 London Marathon. Go Team Kenya, go!