Kenya won its first Gold Medal in the ongoing 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games in the 800 metres.
Emmanuel Korir led his team mate Ferguson Rotich to bag the gold in a time of 1:45.06 to a 1-2 Kenyan finish at the Games.
He was disqualified for a false start in the 400m heats, showed energy and determination in the two-lap race overcoming a strong field to bag his first Olympic gold.
‘Am thankful to have won the race and taking gold it wasn’t easy but knowing that Kenyans were expecting this victory despite the pressure back home we won,”. He said.
Earlier in the day Kenya bagged bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final from Hyvin Kiyeng who finished third behind Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and USA’s Courtney Frerichs.
Schedule of the day’s competition
3am Men’s decathlon
3:10am Women’s high jump qualification
3:40am Women’s heptathlon
4am Women’s 4×100 relay – round one
4.30am Medal ceremony, 800m (Gold – Emmanuel Korir, Silver – Ferguson Rotich)
5am Men’s triple jump final
5:05am Men’s shot put final
5:30am Men’s 4x100m rely – round one
5:55am Men’s 110m hurdles final
10.30am Men’s 20km race walk final
1pm Women’s pole vault final
1:25pm Women’s 4x400m relay – round one
2pm Men’s 1,500m semi-finals (Charles Simotwo, Timothy Cheruiyot)
3pm Men’s 400m final
