ABOUT
Kipchoge Keino
MARKET
When anyone thinks of Kip Keino the words “Legend” and “Iconic” come to mind immediately. One envisions Gold medals… someone that was born to run… leaving his
opponents in the dust… victory! After all, this is the man that put Kenya on the map in the world of international athletics. He is the ultimate symbol of Kenyan Pride. He is Kenya.
However, when you meet him you realise that he is a humble man who is just as proud of his family, country and charity work as he is of his athletic achievements. He considers fame a privilege that is to be used to better his country and the people he helps. This man, this legend, this brand unto his own; is the son and pride
of Kenya. His life has been dedicated to the country from his very first victory to his present day philanthropy.
STORY
Keino was born in Kipsamo, Nandi District, Kenya on 17 January 1940. His name, Kipchoge, is a Nandi language expression for “born near the grain storage shed”.
Tragically, Keino lost his parents when he was young. He was then raised by an aunt.
Keino’s father, a long-distance runner, introduced his son to the sport. However, it was only later in his adult life that Keino took up the sport.
Regardless of this, ”Life” started him on the path of greatness from the age of 5. As Keino fondly recalls “when I started primary school. I ran in my bare feet four miles to school in the morning, home for lunch’s, again for afternoon school and back at the end of the day. I did this everyday until I left school.” When Keino wasn’t at school his chores included herding the family’s goats all over the hills.
After leaving school, he joined the police as a physical trainer instructor. In the early 1960s.
Keino took up competitive athletics. However, he did this while still working full time.
In those days Kenya was not the powerhouse for runners like it is today.
In fact, the world belief was that distance running was better suited for “sophisticated” white runners. No one, include Keino, realised that every instance and experience of his life was leading up to his breaking through social, racial and sports barriers. Every experience was going to change history and the face of Kenyan athletics. With each step he paved the way for future athletes to show their potential and make Kenya and her people proud.
JOURNEY
In 1962, Keino started his journey by representing Kenya in the Commonwealth games in Australia where he came 11th in the three mile race. In 1964, he was part of the Tokyo Olympics where we finished fifth in the
5000 meters. He didn’t qualify for the 1500 meters. That year Keino’s greatest victory was that he married Phyllis; his wife, life partner and biggest supporter. They later added their son Martin to their legacy.
On 27 August 1965, Keino created a new world record for the 3000 meters by over 6 seconds to 7:39.6 in his first attempt.
He won gold medals for the 1500 meters and 5000 meters at the first All-African Games.
Later in that year, he broke the 5000 meters world record held by Ron Clarke, clocking 13:24. 2.
In 1966, at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, Keino dominated and won the mile and three-mile runs. The following Commonwealth Games saw him win the 1500 metres and come in third in the 5000 metres.
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, he won the gold medal for the 1500 metres and the silver medal for 5000 meters.
In 1972, Four years later, at the Olympics in Munich, Germany he won a gold medal for the 3000 metres steeplechase and a silver medal for the 1500 metres.
In 1973, announced his retirement from being an athlete. His dedication and involvement in the sport was far from over. In fact, the new chapter of his life was just as exciting and impactful.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Keino is extremely proud of his athletic achievements. They took hard work, commitment and dedication. In fact, people today still talk of how he patricide in the Mexico City Olympics even though he was suffering from excoriating gall bladder issues that caused him to collapse during a race. Even thought he was disqualified. He picked himself up and made sure he crossed the finish line with Kenyan dignity and pride.
When asked about his achievements; Keino is adamant that he is as proud of the work that he and his wife; as he is of his medals. “A man is not measured solely on the great achievements he makes in the public eye, but also for those that no one is aware of ”.
Olympic Finals
- 1964 Tokyo
- 5000 m, 5th
- 1500 m, 10th
- 1968 Mexico City
- 10,000 m, DNF
- 5000 m, Silver
- 1500 m, Gold
- 1972 Munich
- 3000 m steeple, Gold
- 1500 m, Silver
Personal Bests
- 800 m: 1:46. 41 (Munich 1972)
- 1500 m: 3:34. 91 (Mexico City 1968)
- Mile: 3:53. 1 (Kisumu 1967)
- 3000 m: 7:39. 6 (Helsingborg 1965)
- 5000 m: 13:24. 2 (Auckland 1965)
- 10,000 m: 28:06. 4 (Leningrad 1968)
- 3000 m steeple: 8:23. 64 (Munich 1972)
Olympics
- 1972 Munich
- 3000 m steeplechase gold
- 1500m silver
- 1968 Mexico City
- 1500m gold
- 5000m silver Commonwealth Games
- 1970
Edinburgh
- 1500m Gold
- 5000m bronze
1966 Kingston
- mile gold
- 3mile gold All-African Games
- 1965
Brazzaville
- 5000m Gold
- 1500m Gold
- 1973 Lagos
- 1500m silver
HONOURS
Sportsman of the Year (Sports Illustrated) Keino was honoured by Sports Illustrated magazine as one of their “Sportsmen and
Sportswomen of the Year” in 1987. He had the privilege of being one of the seven “Athletes Who Care” for his work with orphans.
Kipchoge Keino Stadium
In 1996, Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret got named after him.
Honorary Degrees
- In 2007, he was made an honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Earlier, Egerton University in Nakuru had awarded him an honorary degree too.
- In July 2012, he received further recognition from the City of Bristol after the Kenyan Olympic Committee, under his presidency, made Bristol the training base for its athletes in preparation for the London 2012
IAAF Hall of Fame
In 2012, Keino was among the inductees in the IAAF Hall of Fame.
Olympic Laurel
On 5 August 2016, at the Olympic opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Keino was awarded the first Olympic Laurel, for outstanding service to the Olympic movement.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT
After retiring from competitive athletics, Keino and his wife, Phyllis Keino have dedicated their lives to humanitarian work in Eldoret, Kenya. What started out with them taking a few orphaned children into their house; evolved into a magnificent opportunity to helps hundreds
of needly children. They did this by establishing the Lewa Children’s Home for orphans, the Kip Keino Primary School, Kip Keino Secondary School and Barka Farm.
Lewa Children’s Home
Lewa Children’s Home in Eldoret which serves orphans from all over Kenya.
The home provides food, shelter, healthcare, education, clothing, and counselling regularly for over 80 children with three full-time caretakers. In addition over 190 children receive food, clothing, and money for school fees through Lewa’s home-base sponsorship program annually.
In 2014, it was estimated that Lewa Children’s Home has taken in and looked after over 600 children. While Kip used his winnings to provide much of the initial funding, he proudly gives credit to Phyllis with orphanage’s success, saying “My wife is the one who has organised and made this work.”
Kipkeino School
Keino Primary School was founded in 1999 to provide education for the children in the Lewa Children’s Home and the Eldoret area. The Keinos believe that education is every child’s right and they do everything in their power to make sure that the children they take in, as well as those in surrounding areas, are given an equal opportunity to a quality education.
Baraka Farm
Founded in the mid-1990s, this farm provides food for the orphanage and the school, as well as providing hands on agricultural training for the youth.