Heroic welcome as Kenyan athletes jet back from Beijing
What you need to know:
- The athletes were driven into the city in a convoy of cars.
- The team will be treated to breakfast at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
History-making Team Kenya athletes from the 15th edition of the World Championships in Athletics arrived back home on Tuesday morning from China.
The athletes were received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Deputy President William Ruto.
“You have made us proud and made history in the whole world. Kenya is magical, Kenya is a country of tremendous opportunities.
“We have always done well but this is exceptional,” he said.
The athletes were driven into the city in a convoy of cars. The team will be treated to breakfast at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
Mr Ruto said President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Thursday host the team at State House in Nairobi.
Among the athletes who arrived are history-making Julius Yego (javelin) and Nicholas Bett (400m hurdles).
Yego became the first Kenyan to win javelin gold at the World Championships with the third longest throw ever of 92.72 metres, which was also an African record and World lead. Yego is the current Africa, Commonwealth and African Games champion.
Bett also made history as the first Kenyan to win a sprint event with victory in the men’s 400m hurdles in a national record and World lead time of 47.79 seconds.
Ezekiel Kemboi, who won an unrivalled fourth consecutive World 3,000m steeplechase title, was also at JKIA.
Olympic and World 800m champion David Rudisha and three times World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop are the gold medallists who opted to fly directly to Europe for the Diamond League due September 3 in Zurich and September 11 in Brussels.
For the first time, Kenya topped the medal standing at the World Championships, beating heavyweights Jamaica and the United States of America.
Team Kenya hauled a total of 16 medals: seven gold, six silver and three bronze.
Jamaica settled for second with 7-2-3 while the United States was third with 5-6-6.
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