The athletics community is once again reeling from grief with the passing of former athlete Henry Rono at the age of 72, days after the tragic loss of world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
In a statement issued to media outlets on Thursday, February 15, Athletics Kenya announced that the revered athlete succumbed to a brief illness at a hospital in Nairobi on Thursday.
Rono made his mark representing Kenya at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, clinching gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase and 5000m events.
That same year, he also secured gold in the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m at the All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria. Additionally, Rono etched his name in history by shattering four world records in the 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, and 10,000m disciplines.
Despite his stellar achievements, Rono missed out on competing at the Olympic Games as Kenya boycotted both the 1976 and 1980 editions held in Montreal, Canada, and Moscow, Russia, respectively.
Born in Kiptaragon Village in Nandi County, Rono later relocated to the United States in 1986, where he spent 33 years before returning to his homeland in 2019.
His demise adds to the somber mood already prevailing in the nation and the global sporting community following the tragic passing of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana in a road accident on Sunday.
