Kenya at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Kenya competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] It was the nation's fifteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1956, having boycotted the 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Games.

Kenya at the 2020 Summer Olympics
IOC code	KEN
NOC	National Olympic Committee of Kenya
in Tokyo, Japan July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) – August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
Competitors	85 in 6 sports
Flag bearers (opening)	Mercy Moim Andrew Amonde
Flag bearer (closing)	Timothy Cheruiyot
Medals Ranked 19th	Gold 4 Silver 4 Bronze 2 Total 10
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976–1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Kenya's medal tally was slightly down from 6 gold and 13 total medals in 2016, but it still won far more medals than any other African nation.

Medalists

Further information: 2020 Summer Olympics medal table and List of 2020 Summer Olympics medal winners

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Gold	Emmanuel Korir	Athletics	Men's 800 metres	August 4
Gold	Faith Kipyegon	Athletics	Women's 1500 metres	August 6
Gold	Peres Jepchirchir	Athletics	Women's marathon	August 7
Gold	Eliud Kipchoge	Athletics	Men's marathon	August 8
Silver	Hellen Obiri	Athletics	Women's 5000 metres	August 2
Silver	Ferguson Rotich	Athletics	Men's 800 metres	August 4
Silver	Brigid Kosgei	Athletics	Women's marathon	August 7
Silver	Timothy Cheruiyot	Athletics	Men's 1500 metres	August 7
Bronze	Benjamin Kigen	Athletics	Men's 3000 metres steeplechase	August 2
Bronze	Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi	Athletics	Women's 3000 metres steeplechase	August 4

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics	22	18	40
Beach volleyball	0	2	2
Boxing	2	2	4
Rugby sevens	13	13	26
Swimming	1	1	2
Taekwondo	0	1	1
Volleyball	0	12	12
Total	38	49	87

Athletics

Main articles: Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Kenyan athletes further achieved the entry standards, either by qualifying time or by world ranking, in the following track and field events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):^[2][3]

Six marathon runners (three per gender) were named to the Kenyan team on January 31, 2020, with defending champions Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot racing at their fourth and fifth Olympics, respectively.^[4] The rest of the track and field team was officially announced on June 19, 2021, including Rio 2016 medalists Hellen Obiri (women's 10000 m), Julius Yego (men's javelin throw), and the reigning middle-distance champion Faith Kipyegon.^[5]

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Track & road events

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Mark Odhiambo	100 m	Bye		DNS		Did not advance
Ferdinand Omurwa		Bye		10.01 NR	3 Q	10.00 NR	3	Did not advance
Emmanuel Korir	400 m	DSQ		—		Did not advance
	800 m	1:45.33	1 Q	—		1:44.74	2 Q	1:45.06
Ferguson Rotich	800 m	1:43.75	1 Q			1:44.04	1 Q	1:45.23
Michael Saruni		1:45.21	2 Q			1:44.55 SB	8	Did not advance
Timothy Cheruiyot	1500 m	3:36.01	2 Q	—		3:33.95	3 Q	3:29.01
Abel Kipsang		3:40.68	1 Q			3:31.65 OR	1 Q	3:29.56 PB	4
Charles Simotwo		3:37.26	10 q			3:34.61	6	Did not advance
Daniel Ebenyo	5000 m	13:41.64	10	—				Did not advance
Nicholas Kimeli		13:38.87	1 Q					12:59.17 SB	4
Samwel Masai		DNS						Did not advance
Rhonex Kipruto	10000 m	—						27:52.78	9
Rodgers Kwemoi								27:50.06	7
Weldon Kipkurui Langat								28:41.42	20
Leonard Bett	3000 m steeplechase	8:19:62	5	—				Did not advance
Abraham Kibiwott		8:12.25	1 Q					8:19.41	10
Benjamin Kigen		8:10.80 SB	3 Q					8:11.45
Lawrence Cherono	Marathon	—						2:10:02	4
Eliud Kipchoge								2:08:38
Amos Kipruto								DNF

Women

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Hellen Syombua	400 m	52.70	5	Did not advance
Mary Moraa	800 m	2:01.66	3 Q	2:00.47	3	Did not advance
Eunice Sum		2:03.00	6	Did not advance
Emily Cherotich Tuei		2:08.08 PB	8	Did not advance
Winnie Chebet	1500 m	4:03.93	10 Q	4:11.62	13	Did not advance
Edinah Jebitok		4:10.72	36	Did not advance
Faith Kipyegon		4:01.40	1 Q	3:56.80	1 Q	3:53.11 OR
Hellen Obiri	5000 m	14:55.77	2 Q	—		14:38.36
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk		14:50.36 SB	5 Q			14:55.85	12
Agnes Jebet Tirop		14:48.01 SB	2 Q			14:39.62 SB	4
Sheila Chelangat	10000 m	—				31:48.23	16
Irene Chepet Cheptai		—				30:44.00 PB'	6
Hellen Obiri		—				30:24.27 PB	4
Beatrice Chepkoech	3000 m steeplechase	9:19.82	3 Q	—		9:16.33	7
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi		9:23.17	1 Q			9:05.39
Purity Cherotich Kirui		9:30.13	5			Did not advance
Ruth Chepngetich	Marathon	—				DNF
Peres Jepchirchir		—				2:27:20 SB
Brigid Kosgei		—				2:27:36 SB

Field events

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Distance	Position	Distance	Position
Mathew Sawe	Men's high jump	2.17	=30	Did not advance
Julius Yego	Men's javelin throw	77.34 SB	24	Did not advance

Boxing

Main articles: Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Kenya entered four boxers (two per gender) into the Olympic tournament. Rio 2016 Olympian Nick Okoth (men's featherweight) and rookie Christine Ongare (women's flyweight) secured places in their respective weight divisions, with the former advancing to the final match and the latter scoring a box-off victory at the 2020 African Qualification Tournament in Diamniadio, Senegal.^[6] Elly Ajowi Ochola (men's heavyweight) and Elizabeth Akinyi (women's welterweight) completed the nation's boxing lineup by topping the list of eligible boxers from Africa in their respective weight divisions of the IOC's Boxing Task Force Rankings.

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Nick Okoth	Men's featherweight	Erdenebatyn (MGL) L 2–3	Did not advance
Elly Ajowi Ochola	Men's heavyweight	Bye	La Cruz (CUB) L 0–5	Did not advance
Christine Ongare	Women's flyweight	Magno (PHI) L 0–5	Did not advance
Elizabeth Akinyi	Women's welterweight	Bye	Panguana (MOZ) L RSC	Did not advance

Rugby sevens

Main article: Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Summary

Team	Event	Group stage				Quarterfinal/Classification	Semifinal/Classification	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Kenya men's	Men's tournament	United States L 14–19	South Africa L 5–14	Ireland L 7–12	4	—	Japan W 21–7	Ireland W 22–0	9
Kenya women's	Women's tournament	New Zealand L 7–29	ROC L 12–35	Great Britain L 0–31	4	—	Japan W 21–17	Canada L 10–24	10

Men's tournament

Main article: Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

Kenya national rugby sevens team qualified for the Games by securing a lone outright berth with a gold-medal victory at the 2019 Africa Men's Sevens in Johannesburg, South Africa.^[7]

Team roster

Kenya's 12-man squad plus one alternate was named on 6 July 2021.^[8]

Head coach: Innocent Simiyu

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Events	Points
1	BK	Daniel Taabu	(1996-01-19)19 January 1996 (aged 25)	15	216
2	FW	Herman Humwa	(1995-11-08)8 November 1995 (aged 25)	12	10
3	FW	Alvin Otieno	(1994-04-19)19 April 1994 (aged 27)	10	55
4	FW	Vincent Onyala	(1996-12-10)10 December 1996 (aged 24)	15	177
5	BK	Billy Odhiambo	(1994-06-26)26 June 1994 (aged 27)	48	440
6	BK	Jeff Oluoch	(1995-04-02)2 April 1995 (aged 26)	22	160
7	BK	Eden Agero	(1990-09-17)17 September 1990 (aged 30)	32	273
8	FW	Andrew Amonde (c)	(1983-12-25)25 December 1983 (aged 37)	76	320
9	BK	Nelson Oyoo	(1994-06-26)26 June 1994 (aged 27)	36	230
11	BK	Collins Injera (c)	(1986-10-18)18 October 1986 (aged 34)	83	1,443
10	BK	Johnstone Olindi	(1999-11-04)4 November 1999 (aged 21)	13	132
12	FW	Willy Ambaka	(1990-05-14)14 May 1990 (aged 31)	51	615
13	BK	Jacob Ojee	(1991-03-07)7 March 1991 (aged 30)	12	65

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	South Africa	3	3	0	0	64	31	+33	9	Quarter-finals
2	United States	3	2	0	1	50	48	+2	7
3	Ireland	3	1	0	2	43	59	−16	5
4	Kenya	3	0	0	3	26	45	−19	3

Updated to match(es) played on 26 July 2021. Source: Tokyo 2020 and World Rugby
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head result; 3) Point difference; 4) Points scored.

26 July 2021 (2021-07-26) 11:30

United States	19–14	Kenya
Try: Isles 2' m Iosefo 4' c Hughes 13' c Con: Hughes (1/2) 5' Tomasin (1/1) 14'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Injera 6' c Oluoch 9' c Con: Agero (2/2) 7', 10'

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

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26 July 2021 (2021-07-26) 19:00

South Africa	14–5	Kenya
Try: S. Davids 2' c Soyizwapi 3' c Con: du Preez (2/2) 2', 4'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Injera 6' m Con: Agero (0/1)

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

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27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 11:00

Kenya	7–12	Ireland
Try: Onyala 13' c Con: Taabu (1/1) 13'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Lennox 1' m McNulty 2' c Con: Dardis (1/2) 2'

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

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27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 17:00

Kenya	21–7	Japan
Try: Otieno 3' c Oluoch 5' c Amonde 12' c Con: Olindi (3/3) 4', 5', 12'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Matsui 1' c Con: Kano (1/1) 2'

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

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28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 9:30

Ireland	0–22	Kenya
	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Olindi 5' c Ojee 10' m Ambaka 12' m Taabu 14' m Con: Olindi (1/1) 5' Taabu (0/2) Amonde (0/1)

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

Women's tournament

Main article: Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

Kenya women's national rugby sevens team qualified for the Games by winning the silver medal and securing a lone outright berth at the 2019 Africa Women's Sevens in Jemmal, Tunisia, as the winners South Africa decided not to accept the berth under SASCOC's rules pertaining to continental qualification route.^[9]

Team roster

Kenya's squad of 13 players was named on 5 July 2021. Additionally, Enid Ouma was named as a non-travelling reserve athlete.^[10]

Head coach: Felix Oloo

• Grace Adhiambo
• Vivian Okwach
• Camilla Atieno
• Judith Okumu
• Sinaida Omondi
• Diana Ochieng
• Sheila Chajira
• Christabel Lindo
• Janet Okelo
• Philadelphia Olando (c)
• Sarah Ndunde
• Stellah Wafula
• Leah Wambui

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	88	28	+60	9	Quarter-finals
2	Great Britain	3	2	0	1	66	38	+28	7
3	ROC	3	1	0	2	47	59	−12	5
4	Kenya	3	0	0	3	19	95	−76	3

Source: Tokyo 2020 and World Rugby
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head result; 3) Point difference; 4) Points scored.

29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 11:30

New Zealand	29–7	Kenya
Try: Fluhler 1' m Blyde (2) 3' c, 9' c Woodman 5' m Broughton 11' m Con: Nathan-Wong (2/5) 3', 9'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Lindo 7' +1 c Con: Okulu (1/1) 7' +1

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

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29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 19:00

ROC	35–12	Kenya
Try: Sozonova 2' c Seredina 4' c Shestakova 8' c Tiron 9' c Kukina 13' c Con: Seredina (4/4) 2', 4', 8', 9' Lushina (1/1) 14'	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Okelo (2) 5' c, 8' m Con: Ndunde (1/2) 5'

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

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30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 11:00

Great Britain	31–0	Kenya
Try: Joyce (2) 1' c, 6' m Burton 3' m Jones 9' c Thomson 14' c Con: Hunt (1/3) 2' Rowland (1/1) 9' Aitchison (1/1) 14'	(Tokyo 2020)

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

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30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 17:00

Kenya	21–17	Japan
Try: Okulu 3' c Omondi 7' c Atieno 14' +1 c Con: Okulu (3/3) 3', 8', 14' +1	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Hara 1' m Koide 8' m Kajiki 10' c Con: Yamanaka (1/3) 10'

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

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31 July 2021 (2021-07-31) 9:30

Canada	24–10	Kenya
Try: Williams 1' c Farella 3' m, 8' m Landry 10' c Con: Landry (2/3) 1', 10' Nicholas (0/1)	(Tokyo 2020)	Try: Okello 5' m Ochieng 13' m Con: Okulu (0/2)

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

Swimming

Main articles: Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Kenya received a universality invitation from FINA to send two top-ranked swimmers (one per gender) in their respective individual events to the Olympics, based on the FINA Points System of June 28, 2021.^[11][12]

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Danilo Rosafio	Men's 100 m freestyle	52.54	56	Did not advance
Emily Muteti	Women's 50 m freestyle	26.31	43	Did not advance

Taekwondo

Main articles: Taekwondo at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Taekwondo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

Kenya entered one athlete into the taekwondo competition at the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008. Faith Ogallo secured a spot in the women's heavyweight category (+67 kg) with a top two finish at the 2020 African Qualification Tournament in Rabat, Morocco.^[13]

Athlete	Event	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Faith Ogallo	Women's +67 kg	Mandić (SRB) L 0–13	Did not advance		Kowalczuk (POL) L 7–15	Did not advance	7

Volleyball

Main article: Volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Beach

Kenya women's beach volleyball team qualified directly for the Olympics by winning the gold medal at the 2018–2020 CAVB Continental Cup Final in Agadir, Morocco.^[14]

Athlete	Event	Preliminary round				Repechage	Round of 16	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Gaudencia Makokha Brackcides Khadambi	Women's	Ana Patrícia / Rebecca (BRA) L (15–21, 9–21)	Claes / Sponcil (USA) L (8–21, 6–21)	Kravčenoka / Graudiņa (LAT) L (6–21, 14–21)	4	Did not advance

Indoor

Summary

Team	Event	Group stage						Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Kenya women's	Women's tournament	Japan L 0–3	South Korea L 0–3	Serbia L 0–3	Dominican Republic L 0–3	Brazil L 0–3	6	Did not advance

Women's tournament

Main article: Volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

Kenya women's volleyball team qualified for the Olympics by winning the pool round with three match points and securing an outright berth at the African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon, marking the nation's recurrence to the sport for the first time since Athens 2004.^[15]

Team roster

The roster was announced on 26 June 2021.^[16]

Head coach: Luizomar de Moura

• 1 Jane Wacu S
• 4 Leonida Kasaya OH
• 5 Sharon Chepchumba OP
• 8 Joy Lusenaka S
• 10 Noel Murambi OH
• 12 Gladys Ekaru MB
• 13 Lorine Chebet MB
• 14 Mercy Moim (c) OH
• 15 Pamela Jepkirui OH
• 16 Agripina Kundu L
• 18 Emmaculate Chemtai OP
• 19 Edith Mukuvilani MB

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Brazil	5	5	0	14	15	3	5.000	434	315	1.378	Quarter-finals
2	Serbia	5	4	1	12	13	3	4.333	381	313	1.217
3	South Korea	5	3	2	7	9	10	0.900	374	415	0.901
4	Dominican Republic	5	2	3	8	10	10	1.000	411	406	1.012
5	Japan (H)	5	1	4	4	6	12	0.500	378	395	0.957
6	Kenya	5	0	5	0	0	15	0.000	242	376	0.644

Source: Tokyo 2020 and FIVB
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Host

25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) 19:40	Japan	3–0	Kenya	Ariake Arena, Tokyo Referees: Fabrice Collados (FRA), Hamid Al-Rousi (UAE)
	(25–15, 25–11, 25–23) Results Statistics

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27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 21:45	South Korea	3–0	Kenya	Ariake Arena, Tokyo Referees: Sumie Myoi (JPN), Evgeny Makshanov (RUS)
	(25–14, 25–22, 26–24) Results Statistics

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29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 14:20	Serbia	3–0	Kenya	Ariake Arena, Tokyo Referees: Hamid Al-Rousi (UAE), Sumie Myoi (JPN)
	(25–21, 25–11, 25–20) Results Statistics

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31 July 2021 (2021-07-31) 09:00	Dominican Republic	3–0	Kenya	Ariake Arena, Tokyo Referees: Kang Joo-hee (KOR), Patricia Rolf (USA)
	(25–19, 25–18, 25–10) Results Statistics

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2 August 2021 (2021-08-02) 21:45	Brazil	3–0	Kenya	Ariake Arena, Tokyo Referees: Vladimir Simonović (SRB), Daniele Rapisarda (ITA)
	(25–10, 25–16, 25–8) Results Statistics

References

1. "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympics. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
2. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
3. "IAAF Games of the XXXII Olympiad – Tokyo 2020 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
4. "Kipchoge and Kosgei lead Kenya's marathon selections for Olympic Games". World Athletics. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
5. "Meet Kenya's athletics team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Olympics. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
6. "Boxing Olympic Qualification – Dakar: Day 7 As It Happened". Olympic Channel. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
7. "Kenya qualify for Tokyo 2020 as African champions". World Rugby. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
8. "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Men's sevens squads". World Rugby. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
9. "Kenya women qualify for Tokyo 2020". World Rugby. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
10. "Kenya Rugby Union unveils Kenya's men and women's rugby sevens teams to the Tokyo Olympics". Africanews. 5 July 2021.
11. Keith, Braden (30 April 2021). "Kenya Selects 2 Athletes, Rosafio and Muteti, for Olympic Swimming Roster". SwimSwam. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
12. "Tokyo Olympics Entry Lists Released, Swimming Begins July 24". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
13. "Six countries earned Olympic taekwondo berth on the second day of the African Qualification Tournament for Tokyo 2020". World Taekwondo. 23 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
14. "Argentina, China, Cuba And Kenya Take Olympic Berths". FIVB. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
15. "Argentina, Kenya Tokyo-bound with first of week's continental Olympic tickets". FIVB. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
16. "Kenya unveil roster for the Tokyo Olympics". fivb.com. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.