Kipchoge ("Kip") Keino turns 66 today. For those of you too young to remember, there was a time when Kenya was not known for producing world class middle distance runners. Kip Keino was one of the first Kenyans to win at the highest levels, and his success has inspired Kenyan runners ever since.
As a 24-year-old, Keino went to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and finished 5th in the 5000m and missed the final of the 1500m. The next year he broke out, setting world records at both 3000m and 5000m. He won the mile and 3-mile at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. In the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, he contested three events: the 10,000m, the 5000m, and the 1500m. He dropped out of the 10,000 after suffering severe gastrointestinal pain, which was caused by a gall bladder infection (diagnosed after the games). In the 5000m, he finished second, narrowly missing the gold. Then, in his sixth race of the games, he beat the unbeatable Jim Ryun of the U.S. in the 1500m by rocketing into the lead early, running the first 800m in 1:55.3. His victory -- the first ever gold medal for an African athlete in the 1500m -- inspired a generation of young African runners. Four years later in Munich, he won Olympic Gold again in the 3000m steeplechase and silver in the 1500m.
Since retiring from running, Keino has spent much of his energy on humanitarian causes. He runs a charitable organization in Western Kenya for orphans. According to Wikipedia he is also president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, and in 1996 was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
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