Kenya's Pamela Jelimo awarded Olympic silver after medal reallocation

Former Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo has officially been upgraded to the silver medal position in the women’s 800m at the London 2012 Olympic Games following the reallocation of medals by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC Executive Board approved the revised standings after World Athletics updated the official results following the disqualification of Russian athlete Yekaterina Poistogova, who had originally finished second in the race.

Poistogova’s result was annulled after she was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation. Her final appeal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in May 2025, making the sanction final and clearing the way for the IOC to redistribute the medals.

“The IOC Executive Board has taken the decision to reallocate Olympic medals from the London 2012 Olympic Games,” the IOC said in a statement.

“Reallocation takes place only after all the remedies have been exhausted by the sanctioned athletes or teams, and once all procedures have been closed.

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The final results of the London 2012 women’s 800m have undergone significant revisions over the years, with three Russian athletes stripped of their performances due to separate anti-doping violations.

Original winner Mariya Savinova, silver medallist Poistogova and Elena Arzhakova have all been disqualified, leading to a major reshuffle of the final standings more than a decade after the race was contested.

As a result, South Africa’s Caster Semenya remains the Olympic champion, while Jelimo, who originally finished fourth, has now been elevated to the silver medal position.

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American athlete Alysia Montaño moves up to bronze, while Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba rises to fourth place. Fellow Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei is classified fifth in the revised standings, which now feature only five athletes following the disqualifications.

Under the IOC’s medal reallocation policy, athletes affected by revised Olympic results are entitled to receive updated recognition, including medals, diplomas and medallist pins. The IOC also allows athletes to choose the timing and location of their official medal presentation ceremonies.

The upgraded silver medal adds another achievement to Jelimo’s distinguished career. The Kenyan enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence in 2008, winning Olympic gold in Beijing and capturing the World Athletics Final title in the same year.

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After establishing herself as one of Kenya’s most successful middle-distance runners, Jelimo retired from competitive athletics in 2014.

Since leaving the track, she has served in the National Police Service and works as an instructor at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri.