Kitum wins bronze medal in Olympic 800 Meters
Timothy Kitum on 9. August became the first Golazo-managed track & field athlete to earn a medal at the London Olympic Games, finishing 3rd in a historical Olympic 800m final.
Timothy Kitum (Kenya) started his London Games campaign on 6. August, placing 2nd in his opening round 800m heat (1:45.72), followed by another 2nd place showing in the semi-final round held on 7. August (1:44.63), advancing him to the 800m final. Golazo teammate Anthony Chemut (Kenya) also moved past the first round (2nd in 1:47.42), but was eliminated in the semi-finals (4th in 1:45.63). In the 800m final, Kitum was positioned in the middle of the pack through 400m, reached first by David Rudisha (Kenya) in 49.28. Advancing through the pack on the final backstretch, Kitum moved into 3rd place coming out of the final turn, then held on to the position, finishing in a new personal best of 1:42.53 ('12 world no. 3). In front of him, history was made as winner Rudisha lowered his own world record to 1:40.91, while silver medalist Nijel Amos (Botswana) set a new junior world record of 1:41.73. Kitum made his own contribution to running history as his time not only was a new personal best by over a second, but also established a new Kenyan junior record previously held by Golazo teammate Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich (1:43.13). Kitum moved into 10th position on the all-time 800m world performers listing, as well as now being 4th on the all-time Kenya list behind Rudisha, Sammy Koskei (1:42.28, 1984), and Wilfred Bungei (1:42.34, 2002).
In other 800m action in London, defending women's Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo (Kenya) advanced past the opening heats (1st in 2:00.54) and semi-finals (1st in 1:59.42), and will compete in the final on 11. August.
