| Solomon Islands at the 2000 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | SOL |
| NOC | National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands |
| Website | www |
| inSydney | |
| Competitors | 2 in 1 sport |
| Flag bearer | Primo Higa (opening) |
| Medals |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
TheSolomon Islands sent a delegation to compete at the2000 Summer Olympics inSydney,Australia from 15 September to 1 October 2000. This was the nation's fifth appearance at aSummer Olympic Games. The Solomon Islands' delegation to Sydney consisted of two track and field athletes,Primo Higa andJenny Keni. Higa competed in themen's steeplechase, and Keni in thewomen's 100 meters. but neither advanced beyond the first round of their event.
The National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands was recognized by theInternational Olympic Committee on 31 December 1982.[1] These Sydney Games were their fifth straight appearance in theSummer Olympic Games since their debut in the1984 Summer Olympics.[2] The Solomon Islands have never won a medal in Olympic competition.[2] The 2000 Summer Olympics were held from 15 September to 1 October 2000; a total of 10,651 athletes represented 199National Olympic Committees.[3] The Solomon Islands' delegation to Sydney consisted of twotrack and field athletes,Primo Higa andJenny Keni.[4] Higa was chosen as the flag bearer for theopening ceremony.[2]
Jenny Keni was 17 years old at the time of the Sydney Olympics, and was making her Olympic debut.[5] In the heats of theWomen's 100 meters, held on 23 September, she was drawn into heat two. She finished her heat with a time of 13.01 seconds, eighth and last in her heat; only the top three from each heat plus the next two fastest overall from all ten hears were allowed to advance, meaning she was eliminated, the slowest qualifying time being 11.60 seconds.[6] In the event overall, the gold medal is vacant due to original gold medalistMarion Jones of theUnited States admitting to steroid use and forfeiting her medals and results from the Sydney Games.[7][8] Officially, the medals in the event are held byEkaterini Thanou ofGreece andTayna Lawrence (the original bronze medalist) ofJamaica sharing silver, andMerlene Ottey, also of Jamaica, the original fourth-place finisher, being awarded a bronze.[8] Gold was left vacant because Thanou, the original silver medalist, had her own issue with missing a drug test at the2004 Summer Olympics[8][9] Keni would later represent theSolomon Islands at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[5]
Primo Higa was 27 years old at the time of these Olympics, and was returning to the Games following his representation of theSolomon Islands at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he did not finish the3000 meters steeplechase.[10][11] On 27 September, he took part in the first round of themen's 3000 meters steeplechase, and was drawn into heat one. He finished the race in 9 minutes and 44.12 seconds, and was 13th and last in his heat; only the best four in each heat and the next three fastest overall from all three heats were able to advance, the slowest qualifying time was 8 minutes and 25.70 seconds.[12] The gold medal was won byReuben Kosgei ofKenya in a time of 8 minutes and 21.43 seconds; the silver was taken byWilson Boit Kipketer, also of Kenya, and the bronze medal was won byAli Ezzine ofMorocco.[13]
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Jenny Keni | Women's 100 m | 13.01 | 8 | Did not advance | |||||
| Primo Higa | Men's 3000 m steeplechase | 9:44.12 | 13 | N/A | Did not advance | ||||
