Pamela Jelimo
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | 5 December 1989 Nandi District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya | (age 34)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 60 kg (132 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Pamela Jelimo (born 5 December 1989) is a Kenyan
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.
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
On 18 July 2008 she bettered the record slightly to 1:54.97 in
She continued her unbeaten streak by winning the
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
[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 had a promising start for the 2012 season finishing second behind
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
Date | Event | Venue | Time |
---|---|---|---|
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
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Kenya | |||||
2007 | African Junior Championships
|
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
|
3rd | 200 m | [39] |
1st | 400 m | ||||
2008 | African Championships | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
|
1st | 800 m | 1:58.70 |
2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:37.67
| |||
Olympic Games | Beijing, China
|
1st | 800 m | 1:54.82 | |
World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany
|
1st | 800 m | ||
2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany
|
20th (h) | 800 m | 2:03.50 |
2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey
|
1st | 800 m | 1:58.83 |
Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom
|
3rd[40] | 800 m | 1:57.59 |
References
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Bartoo, Vincent (7 September 2008). "Grand reception awaits superstar Jelimo". The Standard. Retrieved 8 October 2008. [dead link]
- ^ a b c Rice, Xan (4 October 2008). "Bittersweet return for Olympic star". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ IAAF. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ a b Oyoo, Jack (30 September 2008). "Village celebrates Jelimo's success". Reuters. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ "Results June 2007". Africathle.com. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ Ramsak, Bob (1 June 2008). "Berlin witnesses Jelimo, 800m revelation - ÅF Golden League". IAAF. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ 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.
- IAAFRetrieved on 14 December 2008
- IAAFRetrieved on 14 December 2008
- ^ Jelimo sets new world junior record Daily Nation(26 May 2008) Retrieved on 14 December 2008
- IAAFRetrieved on 14 December 2008
- ^ 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
- WeltklasseRetrieved on 14 December 2008
- IAAF. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "Jelimo wins Golden League jackpot". International Herald Tribune. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ 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
- ^ Ng'Etich, Peter (18 September 2008) Pomp as street is named after million dollar girl Daily Nation Retrieved on 14 December 2008
- ^ Makori, Elias (23 November 2008) Bolt and Isinbayeva named top athletes for '08 Daily Nation Retrieved on 14 December 2008
- The Daily NationRetrieved on 23 February 2009
- ^ Mutwiri, Mutuota (18 February 2009)Jelimo cancels trips to indoor meetings The Standard Retrieved on 23 February 2009
- ^ IAAF, 19 April 2009: Cheruiyot and Jelimo spice-up Kakamega track meet Retrieved on 20 April 2009
- ^ Athletics Weekly, 23 May 2009: Meadows stuns Jelimo in Rabat Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Standard, 9 June 2009: Olympic medallist Kiprop tops Oregon meeting
- ^ NACHT VAN DE ATLETIEK: 800m Women ; Official result
- IAAFRetrieved on 22 July 2009
- ^ "2009 IAAF World Championships - 800 metres women semi-final results". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
- ^ Daily Nation, 3 April 2010: Excitement as Pamela Jelimo returns to track with victory
- ^ IAAF: 2010 Diamond league - Shanghai - Women's 800m results Archived 25 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zimbio.com, 26 June 2010 :Struggling Jelimo bows out of title defence Archived 9 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Letsrun.com, 4 June 2011 2011 Prefontaine Classic Distance Races: Lagat, Verzbicas, Kaki And Sinclair Impress
- ^ IAAF, 11 March 2012: EVENT REPORT - Women's 800 Metres - Final
- IAAF. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- IAAF. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ Wandera, Gilbert (28 June 2012). Inspired Jelimo ready to star at London Games. The Standard. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ Gibson, Owen (9 November 2015). "Russia accused of 'state-sponsored doping' as Wada calls for athletics ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "IOC ready to strip medals from Russians - Article - TSN". TSN. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ 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
- ^ WORLD JUNIOR ATHLETICS HISTORY ("WJAH") African Junior Championships 2007 Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Arzhakova was later disqualified due to a doping violation