2021 in review: Kenya shines at the Tokyo Olympics

After a year’s delay, the much-awaited Tokyo 2020 Olympics games finally happened, giving a platform to 85 Kenyan athletes to compete with the best in the world, with women making the largest number of 48.

Kenya emerged as the best African nation, and 19th overall, with 10 medals – four gold, four silver and two bronze all mined from athletics.

Emmanuel Korir won gold in the 800m, same as Faith Kipyegon in 1500m as Peres Jepchirchir and Eliud Kipchoge brought home the other two golds. Hellen Obiri settled for the 5000m silver and so did Ferguson Rotich, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Brigid Kosgei 800m, 1500m, and marathon respectively. Benjamin Kigen and Hyvin Kiyeng claimed bronze in the 3000m steeplechase, men and women.

The 10 medals was a drop for Kenya compared to the other two recent Olympics Games as the country collected 13 medals in the 2016 and 2012 editions. The delayed games were not without standout performances, both good and bad, mostly good and promising.

G.O.A.T King Choge

Eliud Kipchoge! Take a bow son.

Kipchoge etched his name in the history books again after becoming the third man to defend his Olympic Marathon title. The record-holder was in a class of his own in the streets of Sapporo, cutting the tape at 2:08:38 to keep the medal he won in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

In October, his exploits crowned the best male athlete of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the seventh edition of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards held in Crete, Greece.

800m growing dominance

Kenya also preserved her dominance in the men’s 800m as Emmanuel Korir won the race to ensure that the country has won the two-lap race in four consecutive Games.

The United States of America-based athlete finished at 1:45.05 ahead of World bronze medalist Ferguson Rotich who clocked 1:45.23.

The stone the builder rejected becomes the 100m cornerstone

The highlight of the competition was, perhaps, the unfortunate twist of events for sprinters Mark Odhiambo and Ferdinand Omanyala.

Omanyala, the stone that the builder had initially rejected, turned out to be the cornerstone in the history of sprint races in Kenya, with Odhiambo on the other hand falling in the same trap that had captured Omanyala in 2017.

From KPL to FKPL - Kenya's top football league was eventful in 2021

The sprinter was barred from competing in the Tokyo Olympics after an adverse analytical finding in his sample missing the 100m heats then.

In August Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed that an earlier sample collected from the 27-year-old and tested in South Africa returned an adverse finding, specifically the presence/use of a Prohibited Substance (Methasterone).

The test was separate from the one conducted in Tokyo that led to Otieno's suspension from the summer games. The AIU, in a press release, confirmed that the Kenyan sprinter violated anti-doping rules and will therefore remain suspended.

Omanyala, on the other hand, had a perfect outing, missing on the finals narrowly after going all the way to the semi-finals, a first for a Kenyan in the discipline, setting a national record of 10.01 in the quarterfinal, and going on to shatter the same in the semifinal to 10.00, before lowering that time to 9.77 at the Kip Keino classic at Kasarani Stadium.

Field events deficiency

Youtube Athlete Julius Yego’s star in the discipline continues to dwindle, raising questions as to whether his time could be coming to an end.

Javelin ace and former silver medalist Yego exited in the semifinals despite throwing a season-best of 77.34 metres.

Despite Kenya failing to get a medal from the field events, there is still room for improvement to ensure we have more representatives and better performances in field events ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.

Team sports

Malkia Strikers return to the Olympics after 16 years in the cold was without an indelible mark.

Kennedy Ochieng: The willowy Mathare prodigy drawing inspiration from Olunga

The Kenyan girls did not manage to win a game or set in the game that they played, carrying invaluable lessons from the event according to Paul Bitok.

Other disciplines in the team sports including rugby both men and women, and beach volleyball did not get close to the medals line.

Kenya did not win a set in the women’s beach volleyball either while Shujaa finished ninth and Lionesses settled for tenth.

Men’s 3000m steeplechase dominance cut

Benjamin Kigen had one job! Protect the over 30 years dominance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase discipline.

However, it was not to be as Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali finished ahead of the Kenya to put a hold on the long dominance.

And the saddest part of the whole Olympics will be the untimely demise of Agnes Tirop later after the event Sad it is to write as it is to remember. A young lady with a very promising career ahead of her. Gone at her prime having finished fourth in Tokyo in the 5000m. We shall remember you, Agnes.