Kipchoge Keino

Kipchoge "Kip" Keino (born January 17, 1940) was a Kenyan runner.

Born in Kipsano, Kenya, Kip 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.

He began this career at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia where he came eleventh in the three miles. At the 1964 Summer Olympics he finished fifth in 5000 m and barely missed the 1500 m final.

On August 27, 1965, Keino lowered the 3000 m world record by over 6 seconds to 7:39.6 at his first attempt at the distance. Later in that year he broke the 5000 m world record held by Ron Clarke clocking 13:24.2. At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica he won both the mile and three miles run. In the next Commonwealth Games, Keino won the 1500 m and was third in 5000 m.

At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, he won the 1500 m gold medal and 5000 m silver medal, despite illness. Four years later, he won the 3000 m steeplechase gold and 1500 m silver at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

In 1987, he shared Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year" award with seven others, characterized as "Athletes Who Care," for his work with orphans.

Currently, Keino lives on a farm in Western Kenya where he heads a charitable foundation for orphans and is president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee.

In 1996 he was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

External link

World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (http://www.sportshumanitarian.com/Inductees/KEINO.HTM)

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