Kenyan long-distance running great Henry Rono, who broke four world records in the span of 81 days in 1978, has died at the age of 72.
Rono becomes the second Kenyan running champion to die in the same week, following the tragic passing of rising 24-year-old superstar Kelvin Kiptum who was killed in a traffic accident on Sunday.
Between April and June in 1978, Rono — then a student at Washington State University and relatively unknown on the international stage — set world records in the 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m and the 3000m steeplechase.
Stream 7NEWS for the latest on your club. Stream for free on 7plus >>
He would never compete in the Olympics, however, due to Kenyan boycotts of the Games in 1976 and 1980, and his career fizzled out as he battled alcoholism.
“On behalf of Athletics Kenya Executive Committee and athletics fraternity, we wish to convey our sincere heartfelt condolences,” Athletics Kenya said on Thursday.
It did not provide a cause of death but said Rono had been in hospital in Kenya’s capital Nairobi for the past 10 days.
Born Kipwambok Rono in 1952 in Kenya’s Rift Valley, a region famed for its production of elite runners, he was unable to walk until the age of six because of a bicycle accident.
He developed his talent as a runner while serving in the Kenyan army and was chosen for the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
But Kenya was among more than 20 African and Arab countries that boycotted the competition to protest the participation of New Zealand, which had sporting ties with apartheid South Africa.
Rono was known for his unorthodox running style and diet, which consisted heavily of fast food and alcohol. His life after running was not an easy one and he ended up living on the streets for a while.
But after spending time in the US, he returned to Kenya a few years ago to coach young athletes.
– With AAP
