Jelimo off to Zurich for Golden League meeting
Pamela Jelimo of Kenya celebrates winning the gold medal with silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya after competing in the women's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Monday. Photo/REUTERS
What you need to know:
- Vlasic will compete in the high jump final at the Olympics on Saturday
- Jelimo will have pushed her track earnings in her first year of serious top flight competition to about Sh80 million
After accomplishing her golden mission in Beijing, Kenya’s jet-setting 800 metres Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo leaves for Zurich on Thursday where she will be on a million dollar mission next week.
The 18-year-old, Kenya’s newest celebrity and one of the biggest performers on this year’s Olympic stage after winning the country’s first women’s Olympic gold medal on Monday night, wants to concentrate on competing in the Weltklasse Golden League meeting next Friday along with Olympic silver medalist and world champion Janeth Jepkosgei.
The Weltklasse Zurich is part of the AF Golden League Jackpot competition that offers one million dollars (Sh70 million) to any athlete who wins his or her competition in all six meetings of the series. In case more than one athlete achieves this, then the group splits the one million dollars.
This year’s Golden League series is featuring four women’s events - 200m, 800m, 100m hurdles and high jump – while the men’s league has 100m, 1,500m, 400m hurdles, 400m, long jump and the javelin throw.
With just two competitions remaining at the Weltklasse Zurich (August 29) and the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium (September 5), only two athletes are in the running for the big pay - Jelimo and Croatian high jumper Blanca Vlasic.
Vlasic will compete in the high jump final at the Olympics on Saturday hoping that, like Jelimo, she gets a gold medal that will push her towards a share of the jackpot.
Jelimo will also be looking to break the world record in the two-lap race.
Injury or some misfortune on the Croat’s part and success in Zurich and Brussels for Jelimo means the Kenyan sensation will be unchallenged and will enjoy a Sh70 million pay day pushing her track earnings in her first year of serious top flight competition to about Sh80 million from prize money alone.
“But I don’t want to think of the money right now. I have two races to go and I want to concentrate on these races,” the Kenya Police runner said at the Olympic Village.
“I’m travelling to Zurich early so that I can concentrate on my preparations for the race.”
