Despite her short-lived athletics career, that beamed with hope, Pamela Jelimo cemented her name in Kenya's history books.
No one knew Jelimo before her meteoric rise in 2007. However, through hard work, commitment and determination she became a household name, not only in Kenya but also in other corners of the globe.
Jelimo produced a sparkling performance at the 2008 Beijing Games to become Kenya’s first ever female Olympic gold medalist. Marathon legend Catherine Nyambura Ndereba came close twice at the 2002 and 2004 Olympic Games, bagging a silver medal in both editions.
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At the age of 18, Jelimo ran one of the fastest 800m races on August 18, 2008 to win Kenya’s maiden women’s gold in the discipline.
She crossed the finishing line in 1:54.87 ahead of compatriot Janet Jepkosgei Busienei and Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi. Jelimo set a new junior world record in that race which still stands today.
Jepkosgei and Benhassi clocked 1:56.07 and 1:56.73 respectively in a race in which four athletes registered their personal bests.
After Jelimo’s historic performance, more golds followed in the women’s category with Nancy Lagat becoming the second lady to win an Olympic title during the same edition.
A few months later, Jelimo set another new record by becoming the first Kenyan to win the IAAF Golden League Jackpot. The jackpot was worth over Ksh100,000,000m, making her a celebrity in Kenya. Bernard Barmasai had missed the coveted jackpot in 1999 in controversial fashion.
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It was reported that soon after Jelimo got the cash, she received numerous marriage proposals from potential suitors. Others emerged claiming that they were her real biological fathers.
Many individuals also came out, asserting that they had identified and nurtured her talent before she rose to the limelight and become 800m African record holder. For instance, Elijah Kipsang Langat, a retired tutor claimed that he bought Jelimo’s first training attire.
“Jelimo was brought to me by her mother Esther in 2005. Her request was that I get her girl a pair of spikes and track suits.
“I could not afford those things so I put the request to (games master) Philip Ngeno. He approached the headmaster who gave out 5,000 Kenyan shillings ($68.40). This was enough for my return fare to Eldoret, two pairs of spikes and track suits for Pamela and another athlete, Jeremiah Sang,” Langat was quoted by Reuters.
Sadly, the world could not see more of Jelimo as her form took a nose dive soon after winning the Golden League Jackpot. It was alleged that rogue managers and marital challenges prematurely dimmed her star.
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