Photo: Pamela_Jelimo_Bislett_Games_2008.jpg: Ragnar Singsaas derivative work: MachoCarioca (talk)—CC BY-SA 2.0
Pamela Jelimo
- Born
- Dec 5, 1989 (36 years old)
- Birthplace
- Nandi County, Kenya
- Events
- 800 m · 600 Metres
- Height
- 1.73 m
- Weight
- 58 kg
Pamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. Born on 5 December 1989 in Nandi County, Kenya, she burst onto the international scene as a teenager and quickly became one of the most celebrated female athletes in Kenyan history.
Jelimo won the gold medal in the 800 metres at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing at just 18 years of age, making her the first Kenyan woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal. That same year, she became the first Kenyan athlete to win the Golden League Jackpot, adding a historic achievement in the prestigious competition circuit to her Olympic glory.
Jelimo holds both the 800 metres world junior record and the senior African record over the same distance, underscoring her extraordinary natural talent. She remains one of the youngest women to win an Olympic gold medal for Kenya, and her achievements at such an early age established her as a trailblazer for Kenyan women in athletics.
As of Oct 28, 2026: 800 m 1:54.01 (#3 all-time), 600 Metres 1:23.35, 2014 season best 2:07.06 (Feb 9, 2014, Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Gent (BEL) (i)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver · Area record (800 m) · 36 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 800m-short-track | 2:07.06 | – | Feb 9, 2014 | – |
| 2014 | 800m-short-track Indoor | 2:07.06 | – | Feb 9, 2014 | Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Gent (BEL) (i) |
| 2014 | 800m Indoor | 2:07.06 | – | Feb 9, 2014 | Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Gent (BEL) (i) |
| 2012 | 400m | 52.14 | – | Jun 14, 2012 | Nairobi (KEN) |
| 2012 | 600m | 1:23.35 | – | Jul 5, 2012 | Liège (BEL) |
| 2012 | 800m | 1:56.76 | – | Jul 7, 2012 | Heusden-Zolder (BEL) |
| 2012 | 800m-short-track Indoor | 1:58.83 | – | Mar 11, 2012 | IAAF World Indoor Championships, Ataköy Arena, Istanbul (i) |
| 2012 | 800m-short-track | 1:59.10 | – | Feb 14, 2012 | – |