Athletics Kenya celebrated their 70th birthday with the country having interesting statistics from 1956 when the country made the maiden appearance at the Olympic Games and 1954 Commonwealth Games.
Since 1956 at the Olympics to the last event in 2016, Kenya has won 103 medals from boxing, track and field events.
Athletics Kenya (AK), then Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA)) is one of the most successful federation in the country where legends like Wilson Kipkurgut Chumo, Nyantika Maiyoro, Amos Biwott, Kipchoge Keino, Naftali Temo, Naftali Bon, Ben Jipcho, Tecla Chemabwai Sang, Tegla Loroupe, Lydia Stephens, Elizabeth Jemeli Chesire, Hezekiah Nyamau, and Charles Asati laid athletics marker to inspire the youth
Maiyoro emerged as pioneer athlete to compete internationally while Kipkurgut stands out as the first Kenyan and African to win an Olympic medal when he bagged bronze in the 880 yards (now 800m) race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games behind Peter Snell (New Zealand) who won gold medal and Canadian Bill Crothers took the silver.
In 1954 the late Maiyoro became the first Kenyan athlete to compete in a global contest at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada, leading the national team that had 4×440 relay greats in Bartojo Rotich, Wanyoike Kamau, Musembi Mbathi alongside Silas Kibet Boit and Kiptalam Keter in 800 yards.
But little is said about the legends especially the 1956 Olympic alongside Kanuti Sum and Musembi Mbathi, Arere Anentia, Bartojo Rotich, Joseph Leresae, Kanuti Arap Sum, Kibet Boit (captain), Kiptalam Arap Keter, Maiyoro, Wanyoike Kamau among others.
Aging slowly in his Nandi home, Chumo struck Kenya’s first Olympic medal when he won 800m bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics before Songok won gold in 400m hurdles at the inaugural All Africa Games in Congo, Brazzaville in 1965.
Wilson Kipkurgut Chumo
At the 1968 Olympics, Kenya reaffirmed its superiority in relays when the quartet of Nyamao, Rudisha, Asati and Bon bagged 4x400m silver in Mexico City.
Being among the first women to compete at the Olympics in 1968, Tegla inspired Sabina Chebichii, who was Kenya’s first woman to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1974.
Without records on when he was born Chumo said he was the favourite son of his father and loyal, therefore he was present any time to be sent to fetch water as well as call friends for a drink.
“As the last born I was the most loyal of them all and he used to send me to his friends most time and I used to run because the old man will spit saliva on the ground, if it dries before returning it will be one of my hard days,” said Chumo in his home.
He said he started running in local sports events organised by seed companies and that is how he discovered he can run.
“during such events, I used to win blankets then we extended the championships where we competed in Kisii and Kericho where we used to compete inter communities of Nandi, Kisii and Kipsigis where I was happy after winning a blanket. I brought a blanket to my father and mother and they were happy for me,” explained Chumo.
He says that he never had a coach for guidance until the East Africa Championships then he got the coach, boarding the plane for the first time he used to fear a lot thinking it could fall.
“In 1962, I went to the Commonwealth Games. I was brave enough to board. I used to run and liked to run and many people used to watch me and I had to run so well to prove that I was selected well. After the Commonwealth, I went to the Olympic games, I used to shiver but I tried when Kipchoge was beaten and failed to reach finals but I managed to reach finals,” he explained.
After retirement, he used to advise young athletes on how the athletes can benefit them.
“I used to walk around the country to talk to them since money had started flowing in through athletics in 1972. As a country, we have succeeded in athletics unlike other sports disciplines,” said Chumo.
He urged the government and the federation to set up retirement benefits to help them feed their people because they have a family.
“Athletics Kenya should send us some money to sustain our lives since life is hard now. We pray to God that the government should remember us. It is not good to sit just the way we are but to secure a plan for better lives ahead, which is bright. Maiyoro wanted to help us but since he did not understand English or Swahili, it was hard for him to help us get out of the financial challenges,” he said.
Amos Biwott
With Kenya dominating in 3,000m steeplechase, the father of them all is Amos Biwott, the first Kenyan to win the first gold for Kenya in 3,000m steeplechase in 1968, setting the pace for Kenyan runners who have not lost any title in major championships in the water and barriers.
The Nandi born runner County Biwott led a 1-2 podium finish for Kenyan team at the Olympic Games in 1968 before winning silver at the Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase.
“Steeplechase has been our race since then and the federation has a good mandate to pick the best of the best for our country’s glory” said the alumnus of Lemlokwo Secondary school.
As a prison warder, he landed the Kenya Team for Mexico team, then Munich went for Commonwealth Games in Edinburg winning bronze, Commonwealth in Christ church.
“I ran the Olympics in 1968 and 1972 where I won gold and finished 4th respectively while Commonwealth I competed in 1970 I won bronze before finishing 8th in 1974 that was won by Ben Jipcho,” said Biwott.
Charles Asati and Hezekiah Nyamao
Back in Kisii and Nyamira counties, Nyamao and Asati are thriving in their old age as they await to celebrate.
Nyamau said life has changed since they exited the sport.
“It is not easy to keep fit until this time,” said Nyamao.
Charles Asati, who served as the Warrant Officer II in the Kenya Army, was the member of Kenya’s gold medal-winning 4x400m relay quartet at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
At his Iringa village in Nyamira County, Asati teamed up with Nyamao, Robert Ouko and Julius Sang for the medal.
“I have come to accept the fact that I should stop asking the government to do things for me, because I know they won’t. I started running at a tender age. The distance to school is approximately 15km, so I had to run an average of 30km a day and that is where it all began,” says Asati.
He also bagged gold in the 400m event at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland as well as gold with Nyamao, Ouko and Sang in the 4x400m relay and a bronze medal in 200m.
“While sports pays now, that was not the case during our time. So perhaps my challenges greatly discouraged my children from following in my footsteps.” Added Asati.
Tecla Chemabwai Sanga
Tecla Chemabwai Sang was the first Kenyan woman to compete in the Olympic Games. She competed in the 1968 Games though failed to make past heats aged 18 years.
However, she admitted that she was handed six years so that they could enable her to compete at the games since she was too young for the games.
“I was born in 1956 but I had to add six years to enable me to run at the Olympics. I was too young but so talented,” said Chemwabwai at her home in Matunda area, Uasin Gishu County.
She was the youngest member of the Kenyan Olympic squad competing alongside Lydia Stephens and Elizabeth Chesire.
She was part of the 1972 Olympic Games where she reached quarterfinals in 400m before winning gold in the one lap race at the 1973 All Africa Games.
She went ahead to win silver at the 1978 Commonwealth Games 800m as it was only the second Commonwealth Games medal won by Kenyan women athletes after Sabina Chebichii who won bronze at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in 800m.
“life was so good by that time and I went ahead to win gold at the 1978 All Africa Games in 800m with a number of East and Central African championships in 200m and 400m,” she explained the mother of four children.
Elizabeth Chesire
Living on the slopes of Cherang’any Hills, Elizabeth Chesire, another middle distance runner that was part of the 1968 Olympic games team.
“I used to run so well for Kenya until I retired and went to school and trained as a teacher to better my life,” said the retired teacher.
Benjamin Kogo
Living in his home in Nandi County, 1968 Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Benjamin Kogo says his life is not good after retiring from both athletics as well as the Kenya Army.
Kogo, who finished behind winner Amos Biwott said he has been trying to meet with Athletics Kenya officials with no success.
“After hanging spikes, life became different and I stay here with my family,” said Kogo at his home in Kapchemoywa village.
He was one of the pioneers in the water and barriers after making his maiden appearance at the 1964 summer games, failing to make the final at steeplechase.
“After failing at the 1964 Olympic games, I went ahead to win gold at the All Africa Games in 1965, which was great for me and the nation at large,” said Kogo who went ahead to win bronze at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
Through the federation, Kenya has made a milestone in athletics after hosting the World Athletics Continental Tour dubbed Kip Keino Classic on track after hosting the World cross country championships in Mombasa way back in 2007 in Mombasa then the 2017 World under 18 championships. Kenya will also be hosting the world under 20 championships following its postponement due to coronavirus.
Continentally, the country also hosted the 1987 All Africa Games where the nation has won 442 medals after scooping 134 gold, 144 silver and 164 bronze.
Making her debut at the Commonwealth Games in 1954, Kenya has accumulated 237 medals with 85 gold, 75 silver and 77 bronze lying 8th on the world table standing.
At the Olympic Games since making her maiden appearance in 1956, Kenya was proud with 103 medals at the Olympic Games that include boxing, track and field events.
In all these, Kenya has won 151 medals at the World Athletics Championships with 60 gold, 50 silver and 41 bronze, lying second in the world after the USA who have accumulated 381 medals in 170 gold, 117 silver and 94 bronze.