The london 2012 puzzle: Report says 11 medals from Olympic Games far from public expectation

By FeverPitch Team

The Kenyan team that participated in the 2012 Olympic Games in London were capable of winning nine gold medals.

But the team won only two gold medals – in the 800m by David Rudisha and Ezekiel Kemboi in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Kenya also won four silver and five bronze medals to finish 28th on the table.

According to a report by the Management Committee of the Games, this was a far cry from the public expectation. The report has accused Athletics Kenya of non-cooperation, some athletes of indiscipline and divided loyalty.

The report, which was handed to the Government last week and seen by the FeverPitch team, has made far-reaching recommendations, among them drop ping of athletes who flout team rules. It is also recommended that federations stop micro-managing athletes once they are selected for major games.

The athletes who were riding high in that season and who were expected to win gold included the two mentioned above, were world champions and record holders.

Kemboi was a world champion prior to travelling to London Games.

Milcah Chemos was the women’s world steeplechase champion and had the third best time in the world that year (9:07.14). She finished fourth.

The report says Team Kenya also had the 1,500m men’s world and Olympic champion. That was Asbel Kiprop.

He was leading (3:28.88) two other teammates who were second and third fastest in the world that year – Silas Kiplagat (3:29.63) and Nixon Chepseba (3:29.77).

Kiprop finished last (12th), Kiplagat placed seventh and Chepseba sixth in the 1,500m final.

Pamela Jelimo was not only an Olympic title-holder prior to London but was also a world indoor champion.

FINISHED THIRD

Marathon teams (men and women) had the top runners that year, two of them - Mary Keitany and Wilson Kipsang  - had won the London Marathon the same year.

Kipsang finished third while Abel Kirui won the silver medal behind Ugandan winner, Stephen Kiprotich. Mary Kaitanty finished in fourth place.

Wilson Kiprop, Moses Masai and Bedan Karoki had some of the world’s leading times in the 10,000m, while Vivian Cheruiyot was holding world titles in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

WON SILVER

Cheruiyot won silver in 5,000m and bronze in 10,000m. Sally Kipyego won silver in 10,000m, Prisca Jeptoo silver in women’s marathon, and Abel Kirui silver in men’s marathon.

Timothy Kiptum (men’s 800m), Abel Mutai (men’s 3,000 SC), Thomas Longosiwa (men’s 5,000m) and Wilson Kipsang (men’s marathon) all won bronze medals.

The report says some athletes participated with serious injuries like Wilson Kiprop and Joyce Chepkurui, both who did not finish their 10,000m races, and Asbel Kiprop in the men’s 1,500m

“All of them admitted that they had sustained injuries while in the Nairobi camp.

This took us by surprise as Dr Victor Bargoria, Mr Peter Nduhiu (physiotherapist) and the head coach, Julius Kirwa, who should have known about the state of the athletes did not report either to the Chief Medical Officer, the Team Manager (Athletics) or Chef De Mission,” says the report by Jonathan Koskei.

“The only disclosure made on medical-related issues was that of Lydia Rotich, who was diagnosed with asthma and the management had to seek for therapeutic use exemption (TUE). She competed in the 3,000m steeplechase, but did not finish the race,” the Report says.