Pamela Jelimo

Last updated

Pamela Jelimo
Pamela Jelimo Bislett Games 2008 cropped.jpg
Personal information
Born5 December 1989 (1989-12-05) (age 34)
Nandi District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in) [1]
Weight60 kg (132 lb) [1]
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Beijing 800 m
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2012 London 800 m
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Istanbul 800 m
African Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Addis Ababa 800 m
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2008 Addis Ababa 4x400 m relay

Pamela Jelimo (born 5 December 1989) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal in 800 metres at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing at the age of 18. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot. She holds both the 800 m world junior record and the senior African record over the same distance. Jelimo is also one of the youngest women to win an Olympic gold medal for Kenya.

Contents

Early life

Pamela Jelimo was born in Kiptomok village, Nandi District, Rift Valley Province. [2] Her mother, Esther Cheptoo Keter, was a promising 200 metres and 400 metres runner, but the customs of the Nandi tribe meant that as the last-born daughter she could not marry and had to care for her parents in their old age. However, she was allowed to bear children to different men; thus, Jelimo was raised by her mother in a family of three brothers and six sisters. [3] Jelimo began running in 2003, aged 13, at Koyo Secondary in the Kaptumo division, near Kapsabet. [4] She quickly established herself as an accomplished athlete, winning at schools' championships in the 100 metres, 200 m, 400 m, 800 metres, 400 metres hurdles, and heptathlon. [5] Her high school games teacher Philip Ng'eno remarked that she used to compete with the boys in sprint events as the girls did not provide the competition she needed. [3]

The family was poor and struggled to pay the fees to send Jelimo to secondary school – her two older siblings had already dropped out as they were unable to meet the costs. She refused to quit and began selling milk from the family cattle to pay her fees, traversing steep slopes on foot to sell it at Chemase market. [2] The school headmaster Daniel Maru donated money for track suits and running shoes so that Jelimo could attend Kenya's centre of excellence for distance running. By 2004, Jelimo had reached the local provincial championships in the 400 m. [4] Maru continued his generosity, allowing the young athlete to graduate while she still owed one year's worth of fees. Still, her mother was forced to sell her last cow so Jelimo could take her exams. Her family always supported her education. [3] [5]

In June 2007 she finished fifth in the 400 metres race at the Kenyan Championships with a time of 55.82 seconds. [6] She kept improving throughout the season, winning the 400 metres gold medal at the African Junior Championships with a finish of 54.93 s and setting a Kenyan national junior record in the 200 m with 24.68 s. Jelimo was pleased with her accomplishments but her new coach Zaid Kipkemboi Aziz suggested that she change to 800 m, stating that she would perform best over the longer distance. She began working for the Kenyan police force and was training with fellow Kenyan runner Janeth Jepkosgei. [4]

Jelimo ran her first 800 metres race on 19 April 2008 at the Kenyan trials for the African championships, clocking 2:01.02 minutes. [7] Despite her budding athletics career, she continued to work at the Embu Police station as a police constable, earning KSh.11,000/= a month (roughly €100). [8]

Breakthrough and Olympic Gold 2008

She made her breakthrough at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics aged 18. [9] Her time, 1:58.70, was a new national junior record. On 25 May 2008 she won 800 metres at the Hengelo Grand Prix event and set a new Junior World Record of 1:55.76. The previous record (1:57.18) was set by Yuan Wang of China in 1993. [10] The previous Kenyan record was held by Janeth Jepkosgei (1:56.04 in 2007). [11] On 1 June 2008 she ran an impressive 800 m race in Berlin and won the ISTAF Golden League in 1:54.99, a new African record. The previous African record (1:55.19) was set by Maria Mutola in 1994.[ citation needed ]

On 18 July 2008 she bettered the record slightly to 1:54.97 in Paris. It was also her fourth consecutive win in ÅF Golden League, where she was one of only two remaining jackpot contenders, the other being high jumper Blanka Vlašić. [12] On 18 August 2008 Jelimo won gold in the 800 metres at the Beijing Olympics. Her time was 1:54.87, again a record. She became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal. [13]

She continued her unbeaten streak by winning the Weltklasse Golden League meeting in Zurich on 29 August 2008 improving her personal best to 1:54.01. [14] This was the third fastest performance ever, behind only Nadezhda Olizarenko and the world record of Jarmila Kratochvílová. At the Memorial van Damme competition in Brussels, the ÅF Golden League final, Jelimo won the 800 metres with a time of 1:55.16. [15] As the only athlete to win the same event at all six Golden League meetings, she won the competition's jackpot of $1,000,000. The only other remaining, Blanca Vlasic, failed to win the last event. [16] She is the first Kenyan to win Golden League jackpot. [17]

She crowned her unbeaten season by winning her race at the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final. After the event she returned to Kenya for the first time since the Olympic trials and was welcomed by major festivities. On 18 September 2008 in Kapsabet Town, a street – Pamela Jelimo Street – was named in her honour. [18]

Jelimo was shortlisted for the IAAF World Athlete of the Year women's category alongside Yelena Isinbayeva and Tirunesh Dibaba, but the award was won by Isinbayeva. Jelimo was awarded the IAAF Revelation of the Year Award and the 2008 Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year Award. [19] [20]

[21] Instead, she started her season in April at the Athletics Kenya meeting in Kakamega, running 200 and 1500 metres races for training purposes. [22] On 23 May she ran her first 800 metres race of the year at the Meeting International Mohammed VI in Rabat, Morocco, finishing sixth (time 2:02.46) – it was the first 800 m race that she did not win. [23] Two weeks later she finished last at the Prefontaine Classic meeting in Eugene, Oregon. [24] Due to these dismal results, she concentrated on training for over a month. She successfully returned to track by winning the Heusden-Zolder meeting on 18 July running under two minutes (1:59.59). [25] [26]

She competed at the 2009 World Championships but did not finish her semi-final. [27]

Jelimo returned to competition in April 2010, winning the 800 metres race at the Athletic Kenya meeting in Nakuru. [28] She finished 8th at the Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, China. [29] She failed to qualify for the 2010 African Championships held in Nairobi. [30]

At the 2011 Prefontaine Classic she finished last in the 800 metres race, timing 2:09.12, almost nine seconds behind the second last runner, Jemma Simpson. [31] It was Jelimo's best time of the season recorded by IAAF.

2012 comeback

Jelimo celebrating her win at the 2012 World Indoor Championships. Pamela Jelimo Istanbul 2012.jpg
Jelimo celebrating her win at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.

Jelimo had a promising start for the 2012 season finishing second behind Malika Akkaoui of Morocco in an indoor meeting at Lievin, France, running eason was crowned by gold medal at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, improving her time to 1:58.83 seconds. She was almost a second ahead of the silver medallist Nataliia Lupu of Ukraine. [32]

She began the outdoor season with a win at the Doha 2012 Diamond League meeting in a meeting record time of 1:56.94 minutes. [33] She was beaten by Fantu Magiso at the Golden Gala, but was victorious at the Kenyan trials and then set a world-leading time of 1:56.76 at the KBC Night of Athletics. [34] [35]

At the 2012 Olympics, Jelimo finished in fourth place. In November 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended two Russian women who finished in first and third be given lifetime bans for their doping violations at the Olympics. [36] The International Olympic Committee has issued disqualification for Mariya Savinova. The IOC has not disqualified the other athlete and did advance the other finishers up one placement, Jelimo was awarded the Bronze medal. [37]

Personal life

Jelimo's love life has remain private though she had a close relationship with a runner in late 2007. It was not revealed in public until December 2008. [38] She has daughter, born in 2014.

Achievements

Personal bests

DateEventVenueTime
July 2007 200 metres Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 24.68 secs
26 June 2008 400 metres Nairobi, Kenya 52.78 secs
29 August 2008 800 metres Zürich, Switzerland 1:54.01 mins
17 April 2009 1500 metres Kakamega, Kenya 4:19.31 mins

Correct as of 10 October 2008. All information from IAAF profile.

Competition record

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
2007 African Junior Championships Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 3rd200 m [39]
1st400 m
2008 African Championships Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1st800 m 1:58.70
2nd4 × 400 m relay 3:37.67
Olympic Games Beijing, China 1st800 m 1:54.82
World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany 1st800 m
2009 World Championships Berlin, Germany 20th (h)800 m 2:03.50
2012 World Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 1st800 m 1:58.83
Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 3rd [40] 800 m 1:57.59

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Mutola</span> Mozambican middle-distance runner

Maria de Lurdes Mutola is a retired female track and field athlete from Mozambique who specialised in the 800 metres running event. She is only the fourth female track and field athlete to compete at six Olympic Games. She is a three-time world champion in this event and a one-time Olympic champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">800 metres</span> Middle-distance running event

The 800 metres, or meters, is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the first modern games in 1896. During the winter track season the event is usually run by completing four laps of an indoor 200-metre track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirunesh Dibaba</span> Ethiopian long-distance runner

Tirunesh Dibaba is an Ethiopian athlete who competes in long-distance track events and international road races. She has won three Olympic track gold medals, five World Championship track gold medals, four individual World Cross Country (WCC) adult titles, and one individual WCC junior title. Tirunesh was the 5,000 metres world record holder until 2020 when her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey set a new world record. She is nicknamed the "baby-faced destroyer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janeth Jepkosgei</span> Kenyan middle-distance runner

Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei is a Kenyan middle distance runner and former world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadezhda Olizarenko</span>

Nadezhda Fyodorovna Olizarenko was a Soviet middle-distance runner. At the 1980 Olympics she won the 800 m event, setting a world record at 1:53.43, and finished third in the 1500 m. Her 800 m world record was improved in 1983, but still remains the second-best time over that distance. Other than world record holder Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, only two athletes, Pamela Jelimo of Kenya, in 2008, and Caster Semenya of South Africa, in 2018, have come within a second of Olizarenko's mark since it was set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivian Cheruiyot</span> Kenyan long-distance runner

Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot is a Kenyan long-distance runner. She represented Kenya at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2016, winning the silver medal in the 5,000 metres and bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2012 London Olympics as well as gold in the 5,000 m and silver in the 10,000 m at the 2016 Rio Olympics, setting a new Olympic record in the former. Cheruiyot won the silver medal in the 5,000 m at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and became the world champion in the event at the 2009 edition, repeating this achievement in 2011, when she also won the 10,000 m. She added gold for the latter event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics. After taking a silver in the 3,000 metres at the 2010 World Indoor Championships, Cheruiyot won a number of outdoor 5,000 m titles that year, becoming Commonwealth Games, African and Continental Cup champion, as well as winning the Diamond League title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaShawn Merritt</span> American sprinter

LaShawn Merritt is an American track and field athlete who competes in sprinting events, specializing in the 400 metres. He is a former Olympic champion over the distance and his personal best of 43.65 seconds makes him the ninth fastest of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Langat</span> Kenyan middle-distance runner

Nancy Jebet Langat is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specialises in the 1,500 metres. She won the gold medal in the 1,500 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics, in a personal best time of 4:00.23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abubaker Kaki Khamis</span> Sudanese runner (born 1989)

Abubaker Kaki Khamis is a Sudanese runner who specializes in the 800 metres. He is a two-time World Indoor Champion over the distance and also won gold at the 2007 All-Africa Games. He represented Sudan at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. He is a member of the Messiria ethnic minority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucia Hrivnák Klocová</span> Slovak middle distance athlete (born 1983)

Lucia Hrivnák Klocová is a Slovak middle distance athlete, who specialises in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. She represented Slovakia at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She has also reached the semi-finals of the World Championships in Athletics on five occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halima Hachlaf</span> Moroccan runner

Halima Hachlaf is a Moroccan runner who specializes in the 800 metres. She is the younger sister of Abdelkader Hachlaf, an international steeplechase athlete. She won silver medals in the 800 m at the Mediterranean Games and Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009. Her personal best for the distance is 1:58.27.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy Cherono</span> Kenyan long-distance runner

Mercy Cherono Koech is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She was the silver medalist in the 5000 metres at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metres</span>

The women's 800 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 15–18 August at the Beijing National Stadium.

The women's 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on 16, 17 and 19 August. Prior to the championships, there was no clear favourite for the race – the twenty fastest times of the season had been run by seventeen different athletes. The reigning World and Olympic champions, Janeth Jepkosgei and Pamela Jelimo, had not shown the dominance of previous seasons. The two fastest runners of the season, Caster Semenya and Maggie Vessey, had recently set personal bests but lacked any major championships experience, while third best Anna Alminova was a 1500 metres specialist. European Indoor Champion Mariya Savinova and Svetlana Klyuka, fourth at the Olympics, were other strong competitors. The 2007 World medallists Hasna Benhassi and Mayte Martínez, and Olympic finalist Yuliya Krevsun were also predicted as medal possibilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milcah Chemos Cheywa</span> Kenyan runner (born 1986)

Milcah Chemos Cheywa is a runner from Kenya who specialises in 3000 metres steeplechase. She was, until 2015, African record holder at the distance and is the gold medalist of the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith Kipyegon</span> Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner

Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. Kipyegon is the current world record holder for the 1,500 metres and mile, both set in 2023, and the former world record holder for the 5,000 metres. Kipyegon won a gold medal each at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 1,500 m. She also won a gold medal in the 1,500 m at the 2017, 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships and in the 5,000 m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Élodie Guégan</span> French middle distance runner

Élodie Guégan is a French middle distance runner, who specialized in the 800 metres. She won two medals, silver and bronze, for the 800 metres at the 2005 European Athletics U23 Championships in Erfurt, Germany, and at the 2007 European Athletics U23 Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. She also set a personal best time of 1:58.93 by finishing fifth at the 2008 ÅF Golden League in Saint-Denis, Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">800 metres at the Olympics</span> Middle Distance Race at the Summer Olympics

The 800 metres at the Summer Olympics has been contested since the first edition of the multi-sport event. The men's 800 m has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. The women's event was first held in 1928, making it the first distance running event for women. However it was not held again until 1960, since when it has been a permanent fixture. It is the most prestigious 800 m race at elite level. The competition format typically has three rounds: a qualifying round, semi-final stage, and a final between eight runners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collins Cheboi</span> Kenyan middle-distance runner

Collins Cheboi Kiprotich is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specialises in the 1500 metres. His personal best for the event is 3:31.53 minutes.

Jonathan Muia Ndiku is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He has a personal best of 8:07.75 minutes. He was the gold medallist in the event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he broke the Commonwealth Games record.

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Pamela Jelimo". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 Bartoo, Vincent (7 September 2008). "Grand reception awaits superstar Jelimo". The Standard . Retrieved 8 October 2008.[ dead link ]
  3. 1 2 3 Rice, Xan (4 October 2008). "Bittersweet return for Olympic star". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Matthew (19 August 2008). "Jelimo - really starting something". IAAF . Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  5. 1 2 Oyoo, Jack (30 September 2008). "Village celebrates Jelimo's success". Reuters . Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  6. ↑ "Results June 2007". Africathle.com. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  7. ↑ Ramsak, Bob (1 June 2008). "Berlin witnesses Jelimo, 800m revelation - ÅF Golden League". IAAF. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  8. ↑ Okoth, Omulo (22 September 2008). "Top athletes' affinity with armed forces". The Standard . Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  9. ↑ Powell, David (4 May 2008) Chelimo defeats Mutola, K. Bekele takes 5000m - African Championships, final day IAAF Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  10. ↑ Ramsak, Bob (24 May 2008) Saladino, Jelimo and Gebrselassie the stars in Hengelo – IAAF World Athletics Tour IAAF Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  11. ↑ Jelimo sets new world junior record Daily Nation (26 May 2008) Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  12. ↑ Turner, Chris (18 July 2008) Jelimo 1:54.97; Robles 12.88; Wariner 43.86 in Paris - ÅF Golden League, Paris IAAF Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  13. ↑ Okoth, Omulo (18 August 2008) Kenya wins two Olympic gold medals Archived 21 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Standard Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  14. ↑ Weltklasse 2008 results Weltklasse Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  15. ↑ "Memorial Van Damme 2008". IAAF. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  16. ↑ "Jelimo wins Golden League jackpot". International Herald Tribune . 5 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  17. ↑ Kenya's heroine Jelimo spurs stampede at home arrival Archived 9 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine AFP (16 September 2008) Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  18. ↑ Ng'Etich, Peter (18 September 2008) Pomp as street is named after million dollar girl Daily Nation Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  19. ↑ Makori, Elias (23 November 2008) Bolt and Isinbayeva named top athletes for '08 Daily Nation Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  20. ↑ Kamuzo Banda, Tim (23 January 2009) Moment of glory for Wanjiru and Jelimo The Daily Nation Retrieved on 23 February 2009
  21. ↑ Mutwiri, Mutuota (18 February 2009)Jelimo cancels trips to indoor meetings The Standard Retrieved on 23 February 2009
  22. ↑ IAAF, 19 April 2009: Cheruiyot and Jelimo spice-up Kakamega track meet Retrieved on 20 April 2009
  23. ↑ Athletics Weekly, 23 May 2009: Meadows stuns Jelimo in Rabat Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ The Standard, 9 June 2009: Olympic medallist Kiprop tops Oregon meeting
  25. ↑ NACHT VAN DE ATLETIEK: 800m Women ; Official result
  26. ↑ Hendrix, Ivo (19 July 2009) Jelimo returns with 1:59.59 in Heusden-Zolder IAAF Retrieved on 22 July 2009
  27. ↑ "2009 IAAF World Championships - 800 metres women semi-final results". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  28. ↑ Daily Nation, 3 April 2010: Excitement as Pamela Jelimo returns to track with victory
  29. ↑ IAAF: 2010 Diamond league - Shanghai - Women's 800m results Archived 25 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ Zimbio.com, 26 June 2010 :Struggling Jelimo bows out of title defence Archived 9 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ↑ Letsrun.com, 4 June 2011 2011 Prefontaine Classic Distance Races: Lagat, Verzbicas, Kaki And Sinclair Impress
  32. ↑ IAAF, 11 March 2012: EVENT REPORT - Women's 800 Metres - Final
  33. ↑ Rowbottom, Mike (11 May 2012). Middle distance magic highlights hot results in Doha – Samsung Diamond League. IAAF. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  34. ↑ Hendrix, Ivo (8 July 2012). World leading 1:56.76 for Jelimo, Rotich improves to 1:43.15 in Heusden-Zolder. IAAF. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  35. ↑ Wandera, Gilbert (28 June 2012). Inspired Jelimo ready to star at London Games. The Standard. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  36. ↑ Gibson, Owen (9 November 2015). "Russia accused of 'state-sponsored doping' as Wada calls for athletics ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  37. ↑ "IOC ready to strip medals from Russians - Article - TSN". TSN. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  38. ↑ Mutuota, Mutwiri (12 December 2008) Marital bliss for million-dollar girl Archived 28 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Standard Retrieved on 14 December 2008
  39. ↑ WORLD JUNIOR ATHLETICS HISTORY ("WJAH") African Junior Championships 2007 Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ Arzhakova was later disqualified due to a doping violation
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.