| Noc: | KEN |
| Nocname: | National Olympic Committee of Kenya |
| Games: | Summer Olympics |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Location: | Beijing |
| Competitors: | 48 |
| Sports: | 5 |
| Flagbearer: | Grace Momanyi |
| Rank: | 13 |
| Gold: | 6 |
| Silver: | 4 |
| Bronze: | 6 |
| Appearances: | auto |
Kenya competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Kenya won a total of 14 medals, 6 of them gold, its best ever performance at the Olympics.
Kenya sent a total of 46 athletes, 28 men and 18 women, to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Four Kenyan men won six gold medals, while the other two were awarded to the women. The remaining medals won by Kenyans were four silver and six bronze medals. Among the nation's gold medalists was Brimin Kipruto, who brought home the nation's seventh straight medal in the steeplechase since 1984. Coming in at a close third was Richard Matelong who was unable to surpass the Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad. Kenya also marked its Olympic debut in taekwondo by sending two athletes, one man and one woman. For the first time in Olympic history, the Kenyan athletes had participated in the women's 800 meter event final. Shortly after the 3,000 meter steeplechase, the women captured a gold medal against many odds. Along with the gold, they also took home the silver as well. Pamela Jelimo led her fellow Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei to a one-two finish.
Marathon runner Samuel Wanjiru did not only bring home the gold medal for the Kenyans, but also broke the 24-year-old Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes.
The Kenyans finished the Olympics being the most successful African country in the Beijing Olympics, and 13th place in the overall country standings.
See main article: article and Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The following athletes have been selected for the Olympics:[1]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | |||
| Vincent Mumo Kiilu | 400 m | 46.79 | 7 | Did not advance | ||||
| Wilfred Bungei | align=left rowspan=3 | 800 m | 1:44.90 | 1 Q | 1:46.23 | 1 Q | 1:44.65 SB | |
| Boaz Kiplagat Lalang | 1:45.72 | 2 Q | 1:45.87 | 3 | Did not advance | |||
| Alfred Yego | 1:46.04 | 2 Q | 1:44.73 | 1 Q | 1:44.82 | |||
| Augustine Choge | align=left rowspan=3 | 1500 m | 3:35.47 | 3 Q | 3:37.54 | 4 Q | 3:35.50 | 10 |
| Asbel Kiprop | 3:41.28 | 1 Q | 3:37.04 | 1 Q | 3:33.11 | |||
| Nicholas Kemboi | 3:41.56 | 11 | Did not advance | |||||
| Eliud Kipchoge | align=left rowspan=3 | 5000 m | 13:37.50 | 2 Q | 13:02.80 | |||
| Thomas Longosiwa | 13:41.30 | 4 Q | 13:31.34 | 12 | ||||
| Edwin Soi | 13:46.41 | 1 Q | 13:06.22 | |||||
| Micah Kogo | align=left rowspan=3 | 10000 m | 27:04.11 SB | |||||
| Moses Ndiema Masai | 27:04.11 SB | 4 | ||||||
| Martin Mathathi | 27:08.25 PB | 7 | ||||||
| Ezekiel Kemboi | align=left rowspan=3 | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:17.55 | 4 Q | 8.16.38 | 7 | ||
| Brimin Kipruto | 8:23.53 | 2 Q | 8.10.34 SB | |||||
| Richard Matelong | 8:19.87 | 2 Q | 8.11.01 | |||||
| Luke Kibet | align=left rowspan=3 | Marathon | ||||||
| Martin Lel | 2:10:24 | 5 | ||||||
| Samuel Wanjiru | 2:06:32 | |||||||
| David Kimutai | 20 km walk | 1:22:21 | 19 | |||||
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | |||
| Elizabeth Muthuka | 400 m | Did not advance | ||||||
| Pamela Jelimo | align=left rowspan=2 | 800 m | 2:03.18 | 1 Q | 1:57.31 | 2 Q | 1:54.87 | |
| Janeth Jepkosgei | 1:59.72 | 1 Q | 1:57.28 | 1 Q | 1:56.07 SB | |||
| Irene Jelagat | align=left rowspan=3 | 1500 m | 4:09.92 | 9 | Did not advance | |||
| Viola Kibiwot | 4:15.62 | 5 | Did not advance | |||||
| Nancy Lagat | 4:03.02 SB | 1 Q | 4:00.23 PB | |||||
| Vivian Cheruiyot | align=left rowspan=3 | 5000 m | 14:57.27 | 2 Q | 15:46.32 | 5 | ||
| Priscah Jepleting | 14:58.07 | 4 Q | 15:51.78 | 11 | ||||
| Sylvia Kibet | 15:10.37 | 2 Q | 15:44.96 | |||||
| Peninah Arusei | align=left rowspan=3 | 10000 m | 31:39.87 | 18 | ||||
| Linet Masai | 30:26.50 | |||||||
| Lucy Wangui | 30:39.96 | 7 | ||||||
| Eunice Jepkorir | align=left rowspan=2 | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:21.31 | 1 Q | 9:07.41 | |||
| Ruth Bosibori Nyangau | 9:19.75 | 2 Q | 9:17.35 | 6 | ||||
| Martha Komu | align=left rowspan=3 | Marathon | 2:27:23 | 5 | ||||
| Salina Jebet Kosgei | 2:29:28 | 10 | ||||||
| Catherine Ndereba | 2:27:06 | |||||||
See main article: article and Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Kenya qualified five boxers for the Olympic boxing tournament. Bilali was the only boxer to qualify at the first African qualifying event.[2] The other four boxers all earned spots at the second African tournament.[3] In addition, welterweight boxer Nickson Abaka qualified for the Olympics, but missed the event due to injury.[4]
| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank | |||
| Suleiman Bilali | Light flyweight | L 3–9 | Did not advance | |||||
| Bernard Ngumba | Flyweight | L 1–10 | Did not advance | |||||
| Nick Okoth | Featherweight | L 2–6 | Did not advance | |||||
| Aziz Ali | Light heavyweight | L 3–8 | Did not advance | |||||
See main article: article and Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics. A sole Kenyan rower has qualified for the Olympics:[5]
See main article: article and Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Kenya sent two swimmers to Beijing.[6]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | |||
| David Dunford | 50 m freestyle | 22.29 | 20 | Did not advance | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Jason Dunford | 100 m freestyle | 49.06 | 24 | Did not advance | |||
| 100 m butterfly | 51.14 | 4 Q | 51.33 | 5 Q | 51.47 | 5 | ||
See main article: article and Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Two Kenyan taekwondo jins will compete at the 2008 olympics:[7]
| Athlete | Event | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Bronze Medal | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank | |||
| Dickson Wamwiri | Men's −58 kg | L 0–7 | Did not advance | ||||||
| Mildred Alango | Women's −49 kg | L 0–7 | Did not advance | W 2–2 | L 0–1 | Did not advance | 5 | ||