“Inspire a Generation.’’ Was the motto for the 2012 London Olympic Games, and indeed the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 800m women race, Pamela Jelimo, has proven the theme as she received her bronze medal in her home country surrounded by the Olympic family under the historic pillars of the Kenyan heritage building.
In a ceremony presided by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members Kipchoge Keino and Dr. Paul Tergat, three athletes have received an upgrade of their performance in the 2012 London Games, a result of winner Mariya Savinova from Russia, who was stripped of the gold medal for doping.
The 2008 Africa 800m and 2012 World Indoor 800m champion, who finished fourth in one minute and 57.59 second Pamela Jelimo who was emotional as she received her award,
“My children can now watch me receive the bronze medal, 10 years later. This is like a dream; I initially didn’t believe it when I heard the good news. It’s truly a dream of every athlete to win a medal in the Olympics and I’m honored to have my parents accompany me and share this joy.” She said.
Following this, South Africa’s Caster Semenya and another Russian Ekaterina Poistogova, who had settled for silver and bronze moved to Gold and silver respectively.
This resulted in “Eldoret express”, World Champion in the race, Janeth Jepkosgei moving into 8th position and receiving an IOC Diploma certificate.
The third athlete to receive a certificate is 5,000 Olympic Silver medalist Hellen Obiri who scooped 8th position in the London Olympics.
“I remember 2012, since it was my first Olympics, my expectations were high honestly, however I didn’t sniff the medal bracket. So humbled to receive the upgrade and this is a motivation to fellow athletes to run clean.” She said.
On receiving this, the New York Marathon debutant told the NOC-K she’s liking her new career in Marathon and exclusively reported she will indeed be going for the Paris 2024 Marathon to ensure an Olympic Gold medal (the only medal she’s missing) is in her cabinet.
The ceremony, which also saw the Cabinet Secretary Youth, Sports and Arts, Hon. Ababu Namwamba grace with his presence, comes in the thick of doping and clean sport accounts in the country with the CS insisting on the strict rules even as the World Anti-doping Agency cleared Kenya of a ban.
A pre-event was held just before the ceremony to welcome two IOC Refugee foundation and Olympic Solidarity members who are currently in the country to hold meetings with NOC-K and visitors from the South of France; the Department of Bouches-du-Rhône, Miramas Metropole, who also jetted in to possibly sign an MOU which will see Team Kenya benefit through a pre-training camp at the 2024 Olympic Games and technical expertise.