Remember the old saying ‘practice makes perfect’? Pauline Konga proved the truth behind the renowned proverb.
Born in Baringo District in 1970, Pauline began to shine in her athletic career at the age of 20 when she participated in the 1990 World Cross Country Championships in France. While the Kenya team was at the top of the medals table, Pauline’s first attempt at a major race found her languishing in 125th place. The placement was devastating but it did not completely discourage her; it motivated her to focus concertedly on timely finishes. A year later at the Belgium IAAF Cross Country Championship she had moved up to 15th place! Pauline continued to participate for the next few World Cross Country Championships in the years that followed and in 1992, was running strongly enough to be a part of Team Kenya at the Barcelona Olympics. Sadly though, she did not make it past the heats in her 3000m race. Once again, participation – but no wins for the plucky athlete.
But Pauline did not know what giving up was. She was just determined to get better. In 1996 she was once again selected to represent Kenya at the Atlanta Olympics. Finally her ultimate breakthrough came as she not only set a new Kenyan record in the 5000m race, but also came in second, earning her a silver medal.
It had been 34 years since a Kenyan athlete first stood on the podium at the Olympic Games and while 43 medals had been won in the interim, none had been brought home by a lady athlete. At 26 Pauline Konga became the first Kenyan woman to receive a medal at the Olympic Games.
We celebrate Olympian Pauline Konga for demonstrating that one does not always have to win to sustain a winning spirit, demonstrating what it means to believe in one’s cause and also the humility it takes to lose and keep trying.