Kenya earned her first gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday after Emmanuel Korir dominated the men’s 800m.

His compatriot Ferguson Rotich, finished second.

“It was tough for us all the way and I am still urging Kenyans to cheer us all the way especially the athletes who are still yet to compete. I know we still have something better to come,” Korir said.

Rotich said that it was important for them to win the race considering that Kenya has always dominated it since 2008.

“There was the pressure of knowing that Kenyans have won this race since 2008 and we knew that we had to work hard to ensure that we bring the medal back home,” Rotich said.

Kigen, Obiri bag Kenya’s first medals at Tokyo Olympics

African 3000m steeplechase champion Benjamin Kigen bagged bronze in the men’s 3000m steeplechase (8:10.45 ) while Hellen Obiri finished second in the women’s 5000m, world champion giving Kenya her first medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Obiri clocked 14:38.36 to finish behind winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands who timed 14:36.79 to clinch gold.

Kigen timed 8:10.45 to finish behind winner Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco (8:08.90) and second-placed Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia (8:10.38) as Kenya’s 53-year hold on the water-and-hurdles race finally came to an end.

Peruth Chemutai – Uganda

Peruth Chemutai became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal as she took gold in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase on day 12 of the Tokyo Games.