Kipchoge Hezekiah Keino (born 17 January 1940) is a retired Kenyan track and field athlete. He was the chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee (KOC) until 29 September 2017. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Keino was among the first in a long line of successful middle and long distance runners to come from the country and has helped and inspired many of his fellow countrymen and women to become the athletics force that they are today. In 2000, he became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).[3] In 2012, he was one of 24 athletes inducted as inaugural members of the IAAF Hall of Fame.[4]
Kipchoge Keino in January 2014
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kipchoge Hezekieh Keino[1] |
| Born | (1940-01-17) 17 January 1940 (age 84)[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 |
| Personal bests |
|
Medal record | |
| Updated on 10 June 2015 | |
Keino was born in Kipsamo, Nandi District, Kenya. His name, Kipchoge, is a Nandi 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 the Kenya Police.[6] Before taking up athletics, he played rugby.[7]
He began his international career at the 1962 Commonwealth GamesinPerth, Western Australia where he came eleventh in the three miles. At the 1964 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 m world 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 the inaugural All-Africa Games. Later in that year, he broke the 5000 m world record held by Ron Clarke, clocking 13:24.2. At the 1966 Commonwealth GamesinKingston, Jamaica, he won both the mile run and three-mile run. In the next Commonwealth Games, Keino won the 1500 metres and was third in the 5000 metres.
At the 1968 Summer OlympicsinMexico City, he won the 1500 metres gold medal (defeating American favourite and world record holder Jim Ryun by 20 metres, the largest winning margin in the history of the event)[8] and 5000 m silver medal. Four years later, he won the 3000 metres steeplechase gold and 1500 metres silver at the 1972 Summer OlympicsinMunich, Germany. Keino was the flag bearer for Kenya in the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies.[9] Keino retired in 1973.[6] He is on the cover of the October 1968 issue of Track and Field News, the first issue following the Olympics.[10] He shared the cover of the September 1969 issue with Naftali Bon.[11]
Keino resides on a farm in Eldoret, Kenya where he controls and runs a charitable 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 |
