TOKYO 2020: Team Kenya the best in Africa but given a cold shoulder as they jet back

On Wednesday, Kenyans woke up to a wretched photo of Eliud Kipchoge, arguably the best ambassador the country would have asked for, make a low key return to the country in the wee hours of the morning following the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The multiple Olympic champion was pictured wreathing past metal rods at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) upon his arrival and would later field questions from the journalists who had braved the early morning cold to hear from the marathon king.

He was accompanied by 1500m World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot who bagged silver over the distance behind Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Ordinarily, the athletes from major global championships have always been afforded a warm welcome by top government officials flanked by close family members.

The scramble by Kenyans at the airport to take photos or have the world-beaters who have always enjoyed some tunes from traditional dancers sign autographs for them has always been the norm.

The unwritten law has always been that the returning contingent is treated to welcome from the highest office in the land to hand back the flag to the head of state.

However, this time round, the script has been different and Kenyans are not having it owing to the fact that the country was ranked 19th globally and the best in the continent.

The rage poured on social media was apparently fueled by the envious reception of the Ugandan athletes who mined four medals in Tokyo by the state and the goodies which continue to flow in the paths of the Namibian duo of Christian Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi who punched above their weights in the 200m final.

President Yoweri Museveni is said to have handsomely rewarded the efforts of the trio of 5000m Olympic champion and record holder Joshua Cheptegei, 3000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai and 10000m bronze medalist Jacob Kiplimo.

The Ugandan leader is reported to have gifted the three with high-end cars and huge cash prizes, Uganda was placed 36th globally and the Tokyo Games were their best since their first participation in the 1956 Melbourne Games.

Back home, prior to the photos unleashed on Wednesday, athletes who enjoyed the company of Sports Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) Zack Kinuthia in Tokyo had been trooping back upon the completion of their races unlike before where they would fly back home as a group. Even their departure to Kurume City and Tokyo was done in batches to seal any loopholes for the spread of coronavirus.

The gallant show by the runners in the hot and humid Tokyo was recognized by hashtags and unlimited mentions online by netizens and the team's sponsor while those drawn from the disciplined forces being hailed by their employers on their pages.

Sources indicate that the knee-high reception and the photos doing rounds on social media were blown out of proportion and did not represent the truth on the ground. However, truth be told, it could have been done better and if there exists a plan to give the 85 sportsmen who qualified for the event something to smile about will be a failed attempt to play to the gallery.

Kenya reportedly pays Ksh.1,088,000 million for gold medalists, Ksh.816,000 for silver and Ksh.544,000 for bronze medalists. Teams sports that scoop gold are rewarded with half a million.

Reception aside, Kenya as expected did her best on the track and the road, bagging ten medals (four golds, four silvers and two bronze medals. Given the conditions the athletes prepared for the Games due to the threat posed by Covid-19, the medal returns are commendable. In 2016, Kenya won 13 medals, a tally similar to that of the 2012 London Games.

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, coasting to victory to keep the laurel he won in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

World Half Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir also decorated her profile after winning the women’s marathon which Kenya stamped her authority after sealing both the gold and silver through Brigid Kosgei. Jepchirchir cut the tape at 2:21:01 while the record holder timed 2:27:20 a result which saw Kenya become the first country to win gold and silver in the women’s Olympics marathon.

Faith Kipyegon showed the world how the 1500m title is defended after beating the much-fancied Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands to take home gold in an Olympic Record of 3:53.11. The World silver medalist became the first Kenyan woman to win consecutive Olympic golds. Abel Kipsang also stole headlines when he ran an Olympic Record in the men's 1500m semifinal but it was short-lived as Ingebrigtsen erased it in the final.

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.

World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri mined silver over the distance in 14:38.36 to keep the medal she won five years ago in Rio.

Kenyans took to their social media accounts to pour out their displeasure after 40-year dominance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase was halted, a race considered a birthright for the country. African champion Benjamin Kigen settled for bronze behind World silver medalist Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia and Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali.

Similarly, the bronze medal claimed by former World champion Hyvin Kiyeng in the ladies’ category did not augur well with netizens who had invested their sky-high hopes in the latter and the record holder Beatrice Chepkoech who struggled throughout the race only to admit that she was not physically fit. Kigen clocked 8:11.48 while Kiyeng who announced that she will transition into road running timed 9:05.39.

While the runners delivered ten medals, questions will be asked on the Rugby and Volleyball teams which also flew the Kenyan flag. Kenya did not win a set in the women’s volleyball both indoor and beach while Shujaa finished ninth and Lionesses settled for tenth. Questions will also continue to be raised in the 10000 and 5000m metres where Kenya's decline was once again exposed by Ugandans and Ethiopians.

Javelin ace and former silver medalist Julius Yego exited in the semifinals despite throwing a season-best of 77.34 metres. Faith Ogallo lost all her Taekwondo matches so are all the four boxers. The Kenyan swimmers also failed to make it to the medal bracket.

Despite Kenya failing to get a medal from the field events, there is still room for improvement ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.