Rudisha’s record was considered especially notable for the absence of pacemakers,which are not permitted at the Olympics or other major championships. The previous person to win an Olympic 800 m final with a world record was Alberto Juantorena, back in 1976. Rudisha also became the first reigning 800 m world champion to win Olympic gold at that distance.

Kenya competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008 winning a total of 14 medals, 6 of the gold, its best ever performance at the Olympics.

The Kenyans sent a total of 28 men and 18 women in five disciplines to the 2008 summer Olympics. These disciplines were Athletics, Boxing, Rowing, Swimming and Taekwondo.

For the first time ever, women outnumbered men in the Kenyan contingent to Greece which was comprised of 46 athletes ( 22 men and 24 women) taking part in four disciplines namely Athletics, Rowing, Volleyball and Swimming. Kenya was not represented in boxing for the first time since 1964.

Kenya returned to Australia for the first time since making a debut at the 1956 games in Melbourne, only difference is that the first games of the new millennium were taking place in Sydney. Kenya was represented by a team sport for only the second time, and the first time since 1988 as the women’s volleyball national team qualified to represent Africa.  Kenya’s contingent of 56 (34 men and 22 women) was also represented in Athletics, Archery, Boxing, Cycling and Swimming.