Kenyan athletes have won a total of 75 medals, all in athletics and boxing at the Summer Olympics.
Over time Kenya has been represented in athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, hockey and archery. Kenya’s first participation at the Summer Olympic Games was in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia where it sent 3 athletes to compete in Men’s 5000M (Nyandika Maiyoro), Marathon (Arap Sum Kanuti) and High jump (Joseph Leresae) who failed to win any medal.
Nyandika Maiyoro (5000M) was the only competitor for the next Olympic Games in 1960 in Rome Italy finishing in 6th position.
Kenya registered its maiden medal through a Bronze medal won by Wilson Kiprugut in Men’s 800M in Tokyo, Japan at the 1964 Games also competed by Men’s hockey team.
The Summer Olympic Games held in Mexico City, Mexico in 1968 proved successful with Kenya winning 3 Gold medals through Kipchoge Keino (1500M), Naftali Temu (10,000M) and Amos Biwott (3000M steeplechase), 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals as was at the next Games held at Munich, West Germany in 1972 with 2 gold medals through Kipchoge Keino (3000M steeplechase) and the 4x400M relay team, 3 Silver and Bronze medals.
Over time Kenya has been represented in athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, hockey and archery. Kenya’s first participation at the Summer Olympic Games was in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia where it sent 3 athletes to compete in Men’s 5000M (Nyandika Maiyoro), Marathon (Arap Sum Kanuti) and High jump (Joseph Leresae) who failed to win any medal.
Nyandika Maiyoro (5000M) was the only competitor for the next Olympic Games in 1960 in Rome Italy finishing in 6th position.
Kenya registered its maiden medal through a Bronze medal won by Wilson Kiprugut in Men’s 800M in Tokyo, Japan at the 1964 Games also competed by Men’s hockey team.
The Summer Olympic Games held in Mexico City, Mexico in 1968 proved successful with Kenya winning 3 Gold medals through Kipchoge Keino (1500M), Naftali Temu (10,000M) and Amos Biwott (3000M steeplechase), 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals as was at the next Games held at Munich, West Germany in 1972 with 2 gold medals through Kipchoge Keino (3000M steeplechase) and the 4x400M relay team, 3 Silver and Bronze medals.
Kenya also sent Hockey and boxing teams for 1972 games.
Kenya boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games following African Unions’ call to protest the South African apartheid policy and resumed its medal haul at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States winning 1 gold through Julius Korir in Men’s 3000m steeplechase and 2 Bronze medals one of which was the first boxing medal at the Games.
The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea proved highly successful for Kenya with 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals with Robert Wangila winning the first Boxing Gold medal. Kenya also won 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
At the 1996 Games held in Atlanta, United States Kenya won 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals including its first Women medal through Pauline Konga’s Silver medal in Women’s 5000M.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Kenya won 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals whereas at the 2004 Games held in Athens, Greece it won 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
The last Olympic games in Beijing, China has been the most successful with 6 Gold, 4 silver and 4 Bronze medals with several highlights such as the first ever Gold medal in Men’s marathon won by the then 21-year-old Samuel Wanjiru at 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 32 seconds breaking the 24 year-old Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes.
Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Lagat became the first women to win Gold medals for Kenya in the 800M and 1500M respectively.
It is notable that Kenya has won Gold in Men’s 3000M steeplechase every time they have competed at the Summer Olympics (except 1976 and 1980 when they boycotted).
Kenya boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games following African Unions’ call to protest the South African apartheid policy and resumed its medal haul at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States winning 1 gold through Julius Korir in Men’s 3000m steeplechase and 2 Bronze medals one of which was the first boxing medal at the Games.
The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea proved highly successful for Kenya with 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals with Robert Wangila winning the first Boxing Gold medal. Kenya also won 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
At the 1996 Games held in Atlanta, United States Kenya won 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze medals including its first Women medal through Pauline Konga’s Silver medal in Women’s 5000M.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Kenya won 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals whereas at the 2004 Games held in Athens, Greece it won 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
The last Olympic games in Beijing, China has been the most successful with 6 Gold, 4 silver and 4 Bronze medals with several highlights such as the first ever Gold medal in Men’s marathon won by the then 21-year-old Samuel Wanjiru at 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 32 seconds breaking the 24 year-old Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes.
Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Lagat became the first women to win Gold medals for Kenya in the 800M and 1500M respectively.
It is notable that Kenya has won Gold in Men’s 3000M steeplechase every time they have competed at the Summer Olympics (except 1976 and 1980 when they boycotted).
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