Wilson Kiprugut, Kenya’s first ever Olympic medalist dead

• Kiprugut won bronze at the 1964 Olympic Games
• He passed away on Tuesday night in Kericho
• He has been mourned as a legendary athlete

Kenyan legendary athlete Wilson Kiprugut has passed away after a long illness. Athletics Kenya announced that Kiprugut, 84, had passed away at his home in Kericho on Tuesday night.

Kiprugut is the first ever Kenyan to win a medal at the Olympic Games when he stormed to bronze in the 400m at the Games in Tokyo, Japan. At the next Games, he clinched silver in the men’s 800m.

He also stole the headlines with two gold medals in the 400 and 800 meters at the first All-African Games held in Brazzaville, Congo in 1965. The following year, he clinched a bronze medal in the 880 yards at the Commonwealth Games held in Kingston, Jamaica.

Kiprugut sealed a slot in the Kenyan team that placed fifth in the 4400 yards at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia. His teammates in the event included Peter Francis, Seraphino Antao, and Kimaru Sonkok.

Kiprugut’s budding talent began to blossom during the East and Central African Championships where he won three 880-yard titles. He grew up in Kericho and began running as a child while at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School.

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