Kenya top in Africa as curtains fall on Paris Olympics

Kenya competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11. It was the nation's sixteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1956, having boycotted the 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Games.

Kenya featured prominently over the weekend as the curtains were drawn on the 33rd edition of the Olympic Games, with the Paris organizers burning the midnight oil to make the event a success after a troublesome Tokyo edition that had significant challenges, most notably the rising coronavirus cases that affected the world at that time.

After a gruelling 16 days of thrilling races, football, volleyball, and handball matches, among other sports, the USA topped the medal standings with 126 medals (40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze), with China second with 91 medals (40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze), and Japan third with 45 medals (20 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze).

Kenya emerged as the best African nation overall in the medals table, finishing in 16th place with a total of 11 medals—four gold, two silver, and five bronze—all won in athletics.

Kenya’s medal tally slightly exceeded that of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the country collected 10 medals and also finished as the best African nation, ranking 19th overall with four gold, four silver, and two bronze.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800 meters), Beatrice Chebet (5000 meters and 10,000 meters), and Faith Kipyegon (1500 meters) won gold, while Faith Kipyegon (5000 meters) and Kwemoi Ronald (5000 meters) secured silver.

The bronze winners were Benson Kipruto (Marathon), Hellen Obiri (Marathon), Faith ‘Kadogo’ Cherotich (3000m Steeplechase), Kibiwot Abraham (3000m Steeplechase), and Mary Moraa (800m).

Paris Olympics: Faith Kipyegon obliterates two records to etch her name into Olympics folklore

Traditionally, the medals for the marathon are the last to be awarded at the Olympic Games during the official closing ceremony, and unlike other editions where the Kenya national anthem played on the night, it was SIfan Hassan's time after she dominated the women's marathon. However, Kenya’s national anthem was played as Kipyegon received her coveted medal.

Besides athletics, Kenya also featured in men’s sevens rugby, judo, swimming, volleyball, and fencing, unlike the Tokyo edition, where Kenya took part in seven disciplines, including women’s rugby, beach volleyball, and taekwondo.

Team Kenya delegation leader Shadrack Maluki commended the athletes for their dedication during the games.

“We have given it our all as a country. We need to thank our athletes for literally giving it all for their motherland,” said the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

“It wasn’t an easy Olympics because we saw the application of technology by countries that embraced it while we relied on raw talent. It is high time we embraced technology. Going forward, NOCK, together with the government, will work together to ensure that whatever is needed to improve our sport is provided to our athletes,” he added.

There was another proud Kenyan moment when marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge’s campaign was introduced by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, alongside other members of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, as an African representative.

Los Angeles will host the next Games in 2028. At yesterday’s ceremony, Paris passed the Olympic flag to Bach, who in turn handed it over to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Where does the 2024 Olympics rank in Kenya’s history?

Kenya first participated in the Olympic Games in 1956 and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the boycotted 1976 and 1980 Games.

The country also participated in the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2008. Kenyan athletes have won 124 medals in total, all from boxing and track and field events, making them the most successful African team at the Olympics.

In terms of total medals won, the most recent Summer Olympics (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024) have been Kenya's most successful, producing more than 42 medals combined.

Paris Olympics: 20 year old Emmanuel Wanyonyi wins Kenya's fifth consecutive 800m gold

The number of Kenyan women winning Olympic medals has risen dramatically, from their first in 1996 to more than half the Kenyan medals in 2016 (seven), with seven more in 2024.

Increasingly, Kenya-born athletes are immigrating to compete in the Olympics for other countries, most notably Bahrain, which earned a gold medal at the Summer Games through Makueni-born athlete Winfred Yavi.

Kenya's Olympic History:

1956 Melbourne: 25 Athletes, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze, 0 Total

1960 Rome: 27 Athletes, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze, 0 Total

1964 Tokyo: 37 Athletes, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze, 1 Total

1968 Mexico City: 39 Athletes, 3 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze, 9 Total

1972 Munich: 57 Athletes, 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 4 Bronze, 9 Total

1976 Montreal: Did not participate

1980 Moscow: Did not participate

1984 Los Angeles: 61 Athletes, 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze, 3 Total

1988 Seoul: 74 Athletes, 5 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze, 9 Total

1992 Barcelona: 51 Athletes, 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze, 8 Total

1996 Atlanta: 52 Athletes, 1 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze, 8 Total

2000 Sydney: 56 Athletes, 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze, 7 Total

2004 Athens: 46 Athletes, 1 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze, 7 Total

2008 Beijing: 48 Athletes, 6 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze, 16 Total

2012 London: 47 Athletes, 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 7 Bronze, 13 Total

2016 Rio de Janeiro: 89 Athletes, 6 Gold, 6 Silver, 1 Bronze, 13 Total

2020 Tokyo: 85 Athletes, 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze, 10 Total

2024 Paris: 124 Athletes, 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 5 Bronze, 11 Total