Wilson Chuma Kiprugut, Kenya’s first Olympic medalist thanks to his third place in the 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, died Tuesday at the age of 84, the Kenyan federation announced on Wednesday. He was the spearhead of an entire country, including Eliud Kipchoge, double Olympic marathon champion.
Kenya is in mourning. The country is orphan of its first great champion. Wilson Chuma Kiprugut, Kenya’s first Olympic medalist after finishing third in the 800 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, died Tuesday at Kericho Hospital after losing consciousness at home, his family said.
“Chuma was one of those athletes who put Kenya on the world map. It’s a sad day for the country and for the world of athletics. He was an extraordinary man,” Jackson told AFP. Tuwei, the president of this federation.
The scout of a whole country
His bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics was “extremely precious because it was the very first for Kenya, then inspiring other athletes to shine on the Olympic stage”, further noted his national federation.
After his third place in 1964, behind the New Zealand legend Peter Snell in particular, the Kenyan athlete had won silver at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, still in the 800m, ahead of the Australian Ralph Doubell, who had beaten the world record that day.
After his retirement from sport, Wilson Chuma Kiprugut was employed as a supervisor in the tea plantations of a British multinational in Kericho.