 Kipchoge Keino in January 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kipchoge Hezekieh Keino[1] |
| Born | (1940-01-17)17 January 1940 (age 85)[2] Kipsamo, Nandi, Rift Valley, Kenya[1] |
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb)[1] |
Spouse | Phyllis Keino |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | 1964 Tokyo 5000 m, 5th 1500 m, 10th 1968 Mexico City 10,000 m, DNF 5000 m,  Silver1500 m,  Gold1972 Munich 3000 m steeple, Gold1500 m, Silver |
| Personalbests |
|
Medal record | |
| Updated on 10 June 2015 | |
Kipchoge Hezekiah Keino is a retired Kenyantrack and field athlete. He was the chairman of theKenyan Olympic Committee (KOC) until 29 September 2017. A two-timeOlympicgold medalist, Keino was among the first in a long line of successfulmiddle andlong distance runners to come from the country and has helped and inspired many of his countrymen and women to become theathletics force that they are today. In 2000, he became an honorary member of theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC).[3] In 2012, he was one of 24 athletes inducted as inaugural members of theIAAF Hall of Fame.[4]
Keino was born on 17 January 1940 in Kipsamo,Nandi District,Kenya. His name,Kipchoge, is aNandi language expression for "born near the grain storage shed."[5] His parents died when he was a youngster and he was raised by an aunt. After finishing school, he joined theKenya Police.[6] Before taking upathletics, he playedrugby.[7]
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He began his international career at the1962 Commonwealth Games inPerth, Western Australia where he came eleventh in the three miles. At the1964 Summer Olympics he finished fifth in 5000 m and just missed qualification for the 1500 m final.
On 27 August 1965, Keino lowered the 3000 mworld record by over 6 seconds to 7:39.6 in his first attempt at the distance. He won two gold medals (1500 and 5000 metres) at theinaugural All-Africa Games. Later in that year, he broke the 5000 m world record held byRon Clarke, clocking 13:24.2. At the1966 Commonwealth Games inKingston, Jamaica, he won both themile run and three-mile run. In the next Commonwealth Games, Keino won the 1500 metres and was third in the 5000 metres.
At the1968 Summer Olympics inMexico City, he won the1500 metres gold medal (defeatingAmerican favourite and world record holderJim Ryun by 20 metres, the largest winning margin in the history of the event)[8] and5000 msilver medal. Four years later, he won the 3000 metres steeplechase gold and 1500 metres silver at the1972 Summer Olympics inMunich,Germany. Keino was theflag bearer for Kenya in the1964 Summer Olympics and the1972 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies.[9] Keino retired in 1973.[6] He is on the cover of the October 1968 issue ofTrack and Field News, the first issue following the Olympics.[10] He shared the cover of the September 1969 issue withNaftali Bon.[11]
Keino resides on a farm inEldoret, Kenya where he controls and runs acharitable organization for orphans. He is married to Phyllis Keino.
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's 3000 m World Record Holder 27 August 1965 – 14 September 1972 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | Men's 5000 m Best Year Performance 1965 | Succeeded by |
|
| 2500 m |
|
|---|---|
| 4000 m |
|
| 2590 m |
|
| 3200 m | |
| 3460 m | |
| 3000 m |
|
Commonwealth Games champions in men's1500 metres | |
|---|---|
| 1 mile (1930–1966) | |
| 1500 metres (1970–present) |
|
Commonwealth Games champions in men's5000 metres | |
|---|---|
| 3 miles (1930–1966) | |
| 5000 metres (1970–present) |
|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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