Kenya Reaps BIG In Paris Olympics As Kipyegon, Wanyonyi Take Gold

Kenya Reaps BIG In Paris Olympics As Kipyegon, Wanyonyi Take Gold

Kenya has accumulated ten medals at the ongoing Paris Olympics, four of which are gold, after winning two more on Saturday evening.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s outstanding performance in the 800m finals, clocking 1:41.19, earned the first gold medal.

ALL THE GLORY GOES TO KENYA ‼️

Emmanuel Wanyoyni front runs to 1:41.19 to claim the Olympic 800m crown 🤯

4 men break 1:42, that has never happened before in the same race.#Paris2024 #Olympics #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/GKc2kDMZwu

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

Faith Kipyegon won her third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 1500m race in 3:51.29, setting a new record.

TRIPLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION 👑

🇰🇪's Faith Kipyegon flies to her 3rd consecutive Olympic 1500m 🥇 with a 3:51.29 OLYMPIC RECORD 🤯#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/NtRYbRHqLM

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

Kenya currently has four gold medals, two silver, and four bronze.

Wanyonyi, who turned 20 ten days ago, won the race in a new personal best time, becoming the youngest ever Olympic 800m champion and the third fastest man ever in the two-lap race.

The youngest ever Olympic 800m champion 🤯

🇰🇪's Emmanuel Wanyonyi claimed a historic gold medal by running 1:41.19 in the men's 800m final.

He only turned 20 on 1 August and is the 3rd fastest man ever over 800m 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FPaEC6owUe

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

His victory extends Kenya’s dominance in the 800 metres at the Olympics.

Kenya has won the 800m race in each of the last three editions, beginning with Wilfred Bungei in 2008, David Rudisha in 2012 and 2016, Emmanuel Korir in 2020, and now Wanyonyi in 2024.

From one Emmanuel to the other 🙌

2021 800m Olympic 🥇 Emmanuel Korir
2024 800m Olympic 🥇 Emmanuel Wanyonyi

Kenya has now won 5 consecutive golds in the men's 800m at the Olympics.#Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/oQhmmIfcdy

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

Kipyegon made history as the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1500m titles.

Faith Kipyegon won the women’s 1500m race at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Kipyegon won her first Olympic title at the 2016 Rio Games and will defend it at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

ALL. THE. FEELS.

3rd Olympic 1500m gold for 🇰🇪's Faith Kipyegon 😤

No one in history has won 3 1500m medals at the Olympics, let alone 3 golds 🤯#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/z0nQl3lIQt

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

She defeated a strong field to defend her title in Paris, with Australian Jessica Hull finishing second in 3:52.56 and Great Britain’s Georgia Bell completing the podium in 3:52.61.

Kipyegon’s victory in Paris solidifies her dominance in the women’s 1500m race, coming just a month after breaking her own world record by 0.07 seconds at the Paris Diamond League on July 7, 2024.

She clocked a stunning 3:49.04, breaking her previous world record of 3:49.11.

4 women go sub-3:53 😵

For the first time in history 4 women run faster than 3:53 in the same 1500m race.

1. Faith Kipyegon 3:51.29 OR 🇰🇪
2. Jessica Hull 3:52.56 🇦🇺
3. Georgia Bell 3:52.61 NR 🇬🇧
4. Diribe Welteji 3:52.75 🇪🇹 #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/d7fjrrcsKE

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

With the win, she is now one of Kenya’s two most successful athletes at the Paris Olympics, having previously won silver in the 5000m race.

Compatriot Beatrice Chebet won two gold medals in the 5000m and 1000m women’s races.

“I’m dedicating this medal to all Kenyans. I just want to hear my country is proud,” Chebet said after winning the 1000m title.

“This was for you, you were in my mind and heart in every lap, I might have made history but I will sleep better knowing Wananchi wataenjoy the weekend.”

I'm dedicating this medal to all Kenyans, you were in my mind and heart in every lap – Beatrice Chebet pic.twitter.com/JORrrXoOTp

— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) August 10, 2024

On Monday, Mary Moraa won bronze in the 800m women’s race. Ronald Kwemoi won silver in the men’s 5000m earlier on Saturday.

In the men’s marathon, 2024 Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto finished third in 2:07:00.

In 2023, Kipruto finished second to the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the world record at 2:00:35.

Eliud Kipchoge, a veteran marathon runner, had a bad day at work and dropped out of the 42-kilometer race, which has been billed as the most difficult in history.

Kenya Reaps BIG In Paris Olympics As Kipyegon, Wanyonyi Take Gold