Sammy Kamau Wanjiru did Kenya and Kenyans proud by winning the Beijing Olympic Marathon. Wa Ciru's winning was not only phenomenal because of the Gold medal but his fast pace in the first and last 500m in sweltering Garissa-like heat of 30 degrees Celsius was breathtaking to say the least. You can imagine running the 42+ km as sprinting from Nairobi to Thika in that Sahara-like temperatures in a time of just over 2 hours (Sammy took 2.06.32 to be precise).And that makes us the track KINGS of Africa. At position 15 overall, we stand head over shoulders among the sporting power houses. The superlative performance leaves wondering if only we had our national priorities right and diversified what a haul of medals we would bag! But let us savour the pride and sweetness for now. The veteran Catherine Ndereba started it all with her silver medal and now Tokyo-based Sammy brought down the curtain down in style. In between we spiced it with medals from the Nandi and Eldoret Expresses.
Just as death is the universal equalizer sports remain our UNIVERSAL and national unifier. The last two weeks of sporting extravaganza from Beijing has galvanized Kenyans into they should have been always by melting our unproductive political and ethnic tension. If only we had leaders to seize on such unique opportunities to help build on the unity for our national cohesion and unity. Well, you guess and the opportunities don’t come flooding our shores very often.
Inverted priorities
Next in four years is London Olympics. Let us hope our sports administrators and leaders will have their priorities right then by putting our money where our TRUE pride resides. In the meantime let us savour the joy and pride brought to us by our gallant sons and daughters. Congratulations to them for the endurance and resultant national glory. Hongera our heroes.
Next in four years is London Olympics. Let us hope our sports administrators and leaders will have their priorities right then by putting our money where our TRUE pride resides. In the meantime let us savour the joy and pride brought to us by our gallant sons and daughters. Congratulations to them for the endurance and resultant national glory. Hongera our heroes.
You forgot to mention that just as Pamela Jelimo, the Kapsabet express NOT Nandi express, was the first to make Kenyan history as the first female Olympic Gold medalist, Samuel Kamau is the first Kenyan to win Marathon Gold.
ReplyDeletekudos to those athletes for excellent performance. its amazing how well our athletes have performed consistently at these events.
ReplyDeleteThis is one area where their is no rigging. If that were possible, we would not be such conquerers. kudos to this athletes, they need to be given a roaring welcome back home.I am interested in knowing how well Quatar performed having bought so many of our own. I must admit that I felt a tinge of anger when I saw a kip- somebody running for Quatar. But again come to think of it, ni kujitetea. Life must go on , ama?
ReplyDeleteanon 9:19
ReplyDeleteoh yeah and that langat (or was it lagat) running for USA, had me worried too. but hey it looks like we get more athletes who still win the games
at least a post that is not tribal...well done mr. misery
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ReplyDeleteThe moment Bernard Lagat(Laygert now in Americanese) defected to the US and started eating meat contaminated with steroids, he was going to be no match for the "maharakwe"(as Moi called it) eating homeboys and girls who have remained true to Kenya.
ReplyDeleteYou know I see the kenyan flag and tears of joy start threatening.
ReplyDeletecongratulations to the men and women.
There's something very powerful about our (Kenyan) National Anthem. Whenever it was played after Kenya won, for me there was this swell of pride. I can only imagine how the individual winners felt.
ReplyDeleteKudos to our athletes. You did Kenya proud.
Now just wait until our voluble and shameless politicians try to steal the limelight away from the athletes, aided by an equally ignorant media who just don't know what their priorities are.
ReplyDeleteWhen the victorious athletes arrive, the media are going to focus on the rubbish politicians utter at the expense of the athletes well deserved glory, as if the politicians somehow had something to do with the athletes stellar achievements. Just you wait and see.
not to forget the valiant effort by jason dunford who put up a very impressive performance in swimming events even breaking the butterfly olympic record in the heats. hope to see in the future more dominance in other events to boost the track achievements.
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You have no idea just how proudly Kenyan I am right now!
ReplyDeleteSorry guys,
ReplyDeleteI am going to spoil the party! Not that this matters but just a simple question. This man Wanjiru, he doesn't look like Kiuk! He is more of a Kale? Any contamination? Or hybrid in him? Depending how you look at it.
Any takers out there? He is from Laikipia in North Rift.
anon 9:29 am. If it matters that much, why not ask him? No need to speculate.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, cant hold back my delight in our athletes for their fabulous performance. Let no slimy politician steal their thunder!
I really dont like our national anthem--too militaristic. Hope they change it some time soon.
Congratulations Kenyans. We at our new sports portal http://www.labatet.com wish to congratulate our self-less athletes who were no match for the well financed contingents from the Euro-Dollar super-powers. We hope that we can now divest into other sports, especially the field events.
ReplyDeleteWe may sound trivial, but we would encourage the communities around our Coast and Lake Victoria to rise to the occasion and provide competitors in the 'water sports' like swimming, diving and rowing. With all those 'dig-out' boat experiences in Lake Victoria, it is time to account for that near-genetic attachment to water.
Kenya, Yes we can!
-Nandi Kaburwo and Labatet.com-
As expected, Kenya dominated the track. It is also worth noting that Kenya finished 4th on the total medal count (track).
ReplyDeleteJIM
www.kenyanzone.com
To you all Kikuyu haters, the last national anthem to be played at Beijing was in honour of Sammy Kamau Wanjiru! The first Kenyan ever to win an Olympic marathon. The only other Kenya who came close to that was Douglas Wakiihuri (another Kikuyu) when he won a silver in Seoul 1988. And another Nyahururu born Eric Wainaina won bronze in 1996 Olympics and Silver in 2000.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many medals the loud-mouth Luos have won for Kenya.
Actually Sammy Kamau Wanjiru is the son of a single Kikuyu woman but he was fathered by a Nandi from Laikipia near Nyahururu. You can tell from the way he runs and you see he doesn't close his mouth. Only the other day, some Kikuyus in this forum reminded us that Kales panua their mouths. But do I say?
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ReplyDeleteIs this the time to brag about tribe?
Would it make a difference if the people of North Rift was to brag of the fact that 7 of the 15 athletes in the men 5000m were born and bred in the area while Kenya was only represented by only 3 of them ?
Do you advocate that the people of Rift make a big deal of the fact that they delivered 12 of the 14 medals? (which include 4 gold medals).
I presume you are one of the people who were calling for the banning of Kenyan athletes (from great rift)from participating in the Beijing Olympics on the false accusation of funding the post election violations.
well said mista-t
ReplyDeleteGood comment mista-t! This' not the time to brag about Kikuyu,Kaleo,Luo....etc. Its time to celebrate as one country! Wanjiru did carry a Kenyan flag as did other Medalists form the North-Rift! Get a life and stop bragging!!
ReplyDeleteand by the way! The Marathon was won by embracing team-work! Wanjiru and Lel came up with a plan to allow them win in a sportsmanship way! http://www.iaaf.org/OLY08/news
ReplyDeletethat was awesome performance by kenyans fuck ethiopians especially kenenisa bekele
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