Analysis of Kenya's performance in middle and distance races at the Olympic Games, 1956 – 2000

Abstract

Kenya has excelled in international sport especially in middle and distance athletic events. The confinement of success to only the middle and distance events does not auger well for its future especially at the Olympic games. To date, Kenya has won a total of 54 medals with 47(87.04%) being in athletics and the remaining 7(12.94%) from boxing. Out of the 47 medals won in athletics, 43(96.5%) of them were in the middle and distance events. Several factors have positively contributed to the excellent performances including finance, training, commitment, raw talent, physiological, constitutional as well as other social-cultural factors. It is therefore recommended in this paper that the athletics managers, scientists and practitioners assist in identifying, nurturing and developing talents as well as tactics that will guarantee the continued domination in the middle and distance athletic events in the 21^st century. A diversification of sports disciplines as well as athletics events, both for men and women, is recommended if Kenya is to win more medals at Olympic levels.

International Journal of Emotional Psychology and Sport Ethics Vol. 6, 2004: 102-107