How over-racing has been costing Kenyan men 5,000m Olympic gold
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 27.07.25. | 21:05
Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1912, Kenya has remarkably won only one gold medal in the event
Despite its rich legacy in distance running, Kenya’s wait for Olympic gold in the men’s 5,000m continues, now stretching to 36 years since John Ngugi’s historic victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1912, Kenya has remarkably won only that one gold medal in this prestigious event.
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While legendary names like Kipchoge Keino (silver, 1968), Naftali Temu (bronze, 1968), Paul Bitok (silver, 1992 and 1996), Eliud Kipchoge (bronze, 2004; silver, 2008), and Thomas Longosiwa (bronze, 2012) have stepped onto the podium, none have replicated Ngugi’s feat.
The most recent editions have only deepened the drought.
At the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Games in Rio, Briton Mo Farah dominated the field, with Kenya’s challenge falling short.
In Tokyo 2021 (2020 Olympics), Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei took gold, followed by Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and American Paul Chelimo, another edition with no Kenyan in the medal bracket.
At the Paris Olympics, Ronald Kwemoi managed a silver medal as Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen won gold after a dominant race. clocked 13:15.04 for second place behind Ingebrigtsen, who won gold in a new Olympic record of 13:13.66, as American Grant Fisher clocked 13:15.13 for a bronze medal.
In July 2024, the statistics painted a similarly worrying picture.
Ethiopia's Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:39.73), Yomif Kejelcha (12:38.95), and Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo (12:40.96) topped the charts, while the best-ranked Kenyan, Kurgat, sat at 25th with a season-best of 12:57.52.
According to athletics coach and analyst Robert Ngisirei Kiserem, Kenya's struggle is not a matter of talent, but a matter of poor athlete management and financial constraints that push runners to over-race.
“We are not weak in the 5,000m. The real issue lies in how our athletes are managed. Many of them run too many races, often prioritizing some over others. This takes a toll on their performance. With the kind of talent we have and the speed they possess, there’s no reason we should be getting beaten,” Kiserem told Mozzart Sport.
The national U20 coach believes that a better-managed racing calendar, with athletes focusing on key championship races, would yield better results.
“If it were up to me, I would recommend they run just one race before the World Championships and one after. That would allow them to train and focus properly, giving their best at the right time,” he continued.
However, over-racing is not always a matter of choice. With limited local financial support, athletes often rely on prize money from international races to survive, an issue Kiserem says must be addressed.
“It is unfair to expect loyalty to local competitions when these athletes have families to feed and bills to pay. In Uganda, athletes are rewarded with land and even houses. In Kenya, we have not created the same incentives. Naturally, our athletes are drawn to races that offer financial rewards, and who can blame them?” he posed.
Kiserem urged the Kenyan government and sporting authorities to invest more in athlete welfare, using Ethiopia as an example of a country that values and rewards its runners generously for flying the national flag.
Despite the setbacks, Kiserem remained optimistic.
He pointed to the successful transition of athletes like Beatrice Chebet, Faith Cherotich, and Edmund Serem from junior to senior levels as proof that Kenya’s talent pipeline is working.
“We have seen a successful transition from the junior to senior ranks. What they need now is consistent support and proper guidance to thrive on the global stage,” he added.
With the Tokyo World Championships looming, Kenya will once again look to break the 5,000m curse through Nicholas Kipkorir, who is the sole Kenyan who has qualified in the distance.
