The Olympics Blog » Kenya

The Money Report: Kenya’s Olympic Incentives

bill — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:02:00 +0000

The Kenyan government said on Monday that it would give cash rewards for the gold medalists in the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games next month.

President Mwai Kibaki said gold medalists will earn 750,000 shillings (about 11,000 U.S. dollars) while silver and bronze medalists will get 500,000 shillings (7,500 dollars) and 250,000 shillings (3,700 dollars) respectively.

To see what other countries are giving to their Olympic medalist, click How Much Money Do Olympians Make.

Kenya Picks Marathon Team for Beijing 2008

bill — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:58:00 +0000

If you were the head of a national Olympic team, you’d be glad to have Isaiah Kiplagat’s problem: picking who to send to the Beijing Olympics from a pool of world champion marathoners.

Here’s his take on the matter according to Xinhua:

“Kenyan athletes won a total of 50 marathon races last year and so far they have won 25 therefore you will agree with me that coming up with six names from such a pool is a monumental task,” Kiplagat said.

Eventually, Kenya’s athletics officials named the following for the men’s marathon team: 2008 London Marathon winner Martin Lel, his runner up in the same race Samuel Wanjiru and this week’s winner of the Boston marathon Robert Cheruiyot.

World marathon Champion Luke Kibet and winner of this year’s Rotterdam marathon William Kipsang are on standby.

Meanwhile, the women’s team is comprised of world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba,
Salina Kosgei, Martha Komu and second runner up during this year’s Boston Marathon Rita Jeptoo.

So is this selection wise? Not according to one time world marathon champion Douglas Wakiihuri. Wakiihuri is worried that Kenya could lose the men’s Olympic title for fielding runners who have just taken part in grueling races.

“You cannot run two major marathon races in a year and expect to do well. Preparations for a race of the magnitude as the Olympic Games need at least six months,” said Wakiihuri.

INFO SOURCE: Xinhua.net

Kenya’s Distance Runners

bill — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Some of them are training in London to escape the violence at home.

Missing in Beijing: Kenya’s Paul Tergat

bill — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat is not going to the Olympics. Why the absence? Here’s why according to the man himself:

“I have recently come back from training and I’m not fit enough for the Olympics. I only recently completed a military training course and have not trained well enough for the Olympics. I have participated in three Olympics before and that is quite an achievement.”

At 38, maybe Tergat is planning to hang his running shoes? He’s had a successful career, having held the marathon world record for four years, so we don’t think he’ll be regretting this decision to miss the Olympics this year.

Runner to Watch: Kenya’s Janeth Jepkosgei

bill — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:59:00 +0000

Janeth Jepkosgei won the 800 meters during the World Championships in Osaka, Japan last year. If she wins a gold medal in Beijing, she will be the first woman from Kenya to bag an Olympic Gold.

Will she beat her opponents, the heightened expectations of her people, and the pressure that comes with being the world champion? We don’t know. But we will be watching her event to find out.

You can read more about Janeth at wikipedia. Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images.