msafiri T he Beijing Games were not only special for headline- grabbers such as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt ( who broke the 100m, 200m and 4x100m world records on the way to triple gold) and Michael Phelps – the American swimmer who won a record eight gold medals; but also for the African nations, and in particular Kenya. In August 2008, the East African country, who first competed at the Olympics in 1956, won the highest number of medals in their history, finishing fifteenth in the medals table and top of the continent's tree, beating northern rival Ethiopia, who ended eighteenth. Winning five gold, five silver and four bronze medals was Kenya's most successful haul ever, trumping the achievements of the 1988 Seoul Games, when they won five gold, two silver and two bronze. And it was also special as the first time the women got in on the gold rush… IN PROFILE Wilfred Bungei, the men's 800m runner, finally fulfilled his potential and peaked at the right time by storming to gold at Beijing. The 28- year- old had finished second in the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, six years ago, but had been out of the medals in major competitions until Beijing. Bungei's previous form included finishing fifth in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, fourth in the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and fifth in Osaka, Japan, last year. In the women's 800m, Pamela Jelimo announced her arrival on the international scene with some style. In her first major competition, the 18- year-old backed up her win in the African Games in Addis Ababa earlier in the year by starting Kenya's gold rush at the Games, and in the process became the country's first ever female Olympic gold medallist. Jelimo, nicknamed the " Kapsabet Express", was unbeatable in the two- lap event, and was followed home by compatriot and reigning world champion Janeth Jepkosgei, 24, to hand Kenya a one- two finish. Not even Olympic legend Maria Mutola of Mozambique came close to rubbing shoulders with the Kenyans. Kenyan women medallists at Beijing join the ranks of former medal winners such as Pauline Konga, who bagged silver in the 5000m at Atlanta 70 OLYMPICS

71 MAIN: Wilfred Bungei wins the men's 800m final ABOVE: Nancy Langat reflects on her win in the 1500m final BELOW: Richard Mateelong congratulates Brimin Kipruto PHOTOGRAPHS: above: christophe simon/ afp/ getty images; top right: olivier morin/ getty images; bottom right: mark dadswell/ getty images msafiri