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E-mail Xinhua, August 16, 2024
Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday rewarded the country's medalists at the Paris Olympics with cash for their sterling performance in France.
The Games which ended on Aug. 12, saw Kenya emerge as top African nation with a total of 11 medals - four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals - and was placed 17th overall.
The gold medalists at the Games are Beatrice Chebet in women's 5,000m and 10,000, Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men's 800m), and Faith Kipyegon in women's 1,500m.
The silver medalists are Ronald Kwemoi (men's 5,000m) and Faith Kipyegon (women's 5,000), while the athletes who won bronze are Mary Moraa (women's 800m), Abraham Kibiwott (men's 3,000m steeplechase), Faith Cherotich (women's 3,000m steeplechase), Benson Kipruto (men's marathon) and Hellen Obiri (women's marathon).
Chebet became the third woman in history to win the 10,000m and the 5,000m in the same Olympics.
The president gave 3 million shillings (23,256 U.S. dollars) for each gold medalist, 15,440 dollars for each silver medalist and 7,720 dollars for each bronze medalist.
Kipyegon is the 1,500m world record holder and the former world record holder in the 5,000m.
Speaking when he held a reception for the Kenyan Olympics team representing the country in Paris in Kenya's western city of Eldoret, the president said the Sports Fund was established to take care of the welfare of athletes and sports.
He said the fund will be used to cater for the welfare of the sportsmen and women whom he described as the greatest ambassadors of Kenya.
Ruto expressed concern that many athletes in the country are increasingly being poached by other countries that have "studied, learned and perfected our skills to our detriment".
He said the national and county governments will work closely with sports federations, among other players, to develop a sports policy framework that will address the gaps in all disciplines.
Ruto called for the diversification of sporting activities in the country, noting that Kenya should set itself a target of broadening the number of sports it competes in at the next Olympics.
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