Kenya made history once again, topping the medal charts in Africa and finishing 17th globally in the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
This time, the Olympic Games were beyond the four gold medals, two silver and five bronze medals.
The song, dance and heroic reception at the airport were sweet but the prize money was sweeter.
As they take a break after tough contests in Paris, Olympic podium finishers will not just be enjoying fame; they will also be celebrating the bountiful awards.
Kenya’s golden girls Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon brought home the titles in 5,000m, 10,000m and 1,500m respectively.
Kipyegon made history by being the first athlete to win an Olympic title three times in a row, and in the process, she lowered the Games’ record in the distance.
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Chebet tore the rulebook, cruising to two gold medals, one from 5,000m and another from 10,000m.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran a spectacular 800m contest and served Canadian Marco Arop, who beat him at the 2023 World Championships, a sweet revenge, and brought home gold in a hotly contested two-lap race.
The gold medalists are set to pocket Sh6.4 million each from World Athletics alone.
The move to reward top performers came after World Athletics, in a landmark decision on April 10, announced that it will become the first international federation to award prize money at an Olympic Games, financially rewarding athletes for achieving the pinnacle of sporting success, starting with the Paris Olympic Games.
A total prize pot of US$2.4 million (Sh309 million) had been ring-fenced from the International Olympic Committee’s revenue share allocation, which is received by World Athletics every four years.
This will be used to reward athletes who win a gold medal in each of the 48 athletics events in Paris with US$50,000 (Sh6.4 million).
"The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.
“This is the continuation of a journey we started back in 2015, which saw all the money World Athletics receives from the International Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games go directly back into our sport.
“We started with the Olympic dividend payments to our Member Federations, which saw us distribute an extra US$5m a year on top of existing grants aimed at athletics growth projects, and we are now in a position to also fund gold medal performances for athletes in Paris, with a commitment to reward all three medallists at the LA28 Olympic Games.
“While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games, I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said as he commented on the introduction of prize money for Olympic champions.
In addition, the Kenyan government’s reward scheme will add to the fat pay cheque.
The gold medalists will walk away with Sh3 million each while the silver winners will pocket Sh2 million and athletes who bagged bronze will be awarded Sh1 million each.
Despite Kenya topping the charts on the African continent, the results left a lot to be desired as observers said the country could have achieved more.
From a team of 83 athletes who flew the country’s colours in seven disciplines, Kenyans expected more medals from athletics and other disciplines, including Rugby and Volleyball.
For Kenya, the Olympic showdown kicked off with Judoka Zeddy Cherop being knocked out 10-0 by Portugal’s Patricia Sampao in a record 22 seconds.
As Kenya looked forward to medals to lighten up the start of the Olympic Games, Fencing African champion Alexandra Ndolo lost 13-12 to Ukrainian Olena Kryvytska.
The Rugby Sevens squad was seen out in the group stage, after a thrashing by Argentina, Australia and Samoa as the women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers failed to win a single set following three 3-0 losses in a tough group B pool which had Brazil, Poland and Japan.
In athletics, Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala's hopes of a 100m Olympic medal were crushed after finishing eighth in the semi-final.
Former Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego, placed fifth in the javelin final after throwing 87.72m.
The USA successfully extended stranglehold, harvesting 126 medals, 40 golds, 44 silvers, and 42 bronze medals, followed by China with 40 golds, 27 silvers, and 24 bronze medals, while Japan completed the top 3 with 45 medals, 20 golds, 12 silvers, and 3 bronzes.
Kipyegon also bagged silver in a controversial 50000m race behind Chebet. The women’s 1500m World Record holder was shoved and disqualified before her silver was reinstated.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued Kenya’s dominance in the 800m race by bringing home the gold medal. The country has never lost a men’s 800m contest at the Olympics since 2008. Ronald Kwemoi took silver in the 5,000m.
Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto won bronze in the marathon while Faith Cherotich and Abraham Kibiwot brought home bronze in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Twenty seven countries won athletics gold medals, two more than the previous record figure, with Dominica, Pakistan, and Saint Lucia winning medals for the first time. Botswana also got a maiden athletics title.
Kenya participated in five sports: swimming, fencing, athletics, women’s volleyball, and rugby sevens men.
The payment of prize money will depend upon the World Athletics ratification process, including athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures.
Each Olympic champion will receive US$50,000. Relay teams will receive the same amount, to be shared among the team.