Pamela Jelimo

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.