2024-02-15 15:16:28
Nairobi (Reuters)
The Athletics Kenya Federation announced that Henry Rono, the long-distance runner who broke four world records within 81 days in 1978, has died at the age of 72.
Between April and June 1978, Rono, a student at Washington State University in the United States, and relatively unknown on the international scene, set world records in the 3,000-, 5,000-, 10,000-meter and 3,000-meter steeplechase races.
However, Rono never competed in the Olympics, as Kenya boycotted the Olympics in 1976 and 1980.
“On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Athletics Federation of Kenya and the athletics family, we would like to extend our sincere heartfelt condolences,” the Athletics Kenya Federation said in a statement.
The Kenyan Federation did not mention the cause of death, but said that Rono had been in the hospital in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for the past ten days.
Rono’s death comes at a time when Kenyan athletes are still affected by the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, in a traffic accident last Sunday.
Born in 1952 in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, a region known for producing elite runners, Kibwambuk Rono was unable to walk until the age of six due to a bicycle accident.
He developed his talent as a runner while serving in the Kenyan army, and was selected for the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meter races at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Rono was known for his unconventional running style and his diet, which consisted largely of fast food.
After spending some time in the United States, he returned to Kenya a few years ago to train young athletes.
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