Team Kenya at the just concluded 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, recorded the 2nd highest number of gold medals in the history of the championships .
With a squad of 58 athletes, including both track, field and marathon athletes, Team Kenya amassed a total of 11 medals, with 7 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.
The number of Kenya’s gold medals, 7, is 2nd to the 2015 outing in Beijing, China, when, for the first time in the history of the World Athletics, the country emerged as overall World Champions with 7 gold medals,6 silvers and 3 bronze.
Beatrice Chebet equalled Vivian Cheruiyot’s 2011 record, bagging 2 gold medals in 5000 m and 10,000 m. .
Chebet also became the 1st woman to simultaneously hold world and Olympic titles at 5000 m and 10,000 m and the only 2nd athlete after Mo Farah of Britain to achieve the milestone.
Kenya finished second in the world, sweeping all women’s middle- and long-distance titles from 800 m to the marathon, shattering three championship records as well as retaining three titles from the 2023 edition in Budapest, Hungary.
Faith Kipyegon was outstanding as she defended her 1500 m title, her fourth global gold over the distance and 3rd in a row, before adding silver in the 5000 m.
Faith Cherotich reclaimed the 3000 m steeplechase gold, the first time since 2019, with a new championship record, as Peris Jepchirchir delivered gold in the marathon, the first for Kenya since Ruth Chepng’etich in 2019.
Lillian Odira’s outstanding performance saw Kenya defend the 800m title, breaking the longest-standing championship record since 1983.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, similar to the Paris Olympics, was the only Kenyan man to win a global title this year, taking the 800m gold with a new championship record.
Making her debut at the global stage, US-based Dorcas Ewoi bagged silver in 1500 m, while Edmund Serem won bronze in the 3000 m steeplechase, as Raynold Cheruiyot added another bronze in 1500 m.
With 11 medals – 7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze – Kenya recorded the best-ever medal tally in history, surpassing the 2015 outing in Beijing, China, when it emerged the overall champion with 5 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze.
The USA retained its overall title on 26 medals (16 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze), while Canada finished 3rd (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), followed by the Netherlands (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), as Botswana, New Zealand, and Spain were all tied on 2 gold and 1 bronze.
Kenya’s Medalists
Gold
Beatrice Chebet-5000m,10,000m
Faith Kipyegon-1500m
Faith Cherotich-3000msc
Emmanuel Wanyonyi-800m
Lillian Odira-800m
Silver
Faith Kipyegon-5000m
Dorcas Ewoi-1500m
Bronze
Edmund Serem-3000msc
Reynold Cheruiyot-1500m
The next edition of the World Athletics Championships will be held in Beijing, China, in 2027.
