By Elias Makori, Managing Editor
As the Commonwealth Games gather momentum in Glasgow with the track and field programme blasting off this Monday (July 27), we celebrate the foundation laid at these “Club Games” by our trailblazing legends, including Kipchoge Keino, Charles Asati, and Amos Biwott.
The three legends delivered historic, medal-winning performances at the Commonwealth Games between 1966 and 1974, establishing Kenya as a global track and field superpower.
Pura Vida Sports Africa Managing Editor Elias Makori presenting some sweet bananas to the legend Kip Keino for the day’s breakfast…
Trailblazing ‘Kip’ Keino
“Kip” Keino captured three gold medals and one bronze medal across two Commonwealth Games:
- 1966 Kingston (Jamaica): He took double gold, winning both the one-mile race and the three-mile race.
- 1970 Edinburgh (Scotland): He won gold in the 1,500 metres (3:36.68) and secured a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres.
Munich 1972 4x400 metres relay gold medalist Charles Asati always happy to give tips on baton exchange. Here, he shows Pura Vida Sports Africa Managing Editor Elias Makori the best technique.
‘Sprint King’ Charles Asati
Charles Asati “The Sprint King” dominated the quarter-mile events, accumulating four gold medals and one bronze medal as follows:
- 1970 Edinburgh (Scotland): He won gold in the 400 metres with a Games record of 45.01 seconds. He anchored Kenya to gold in the 4×400m relay and claimed a bronze medal in the 200 metres.
- 1974 Christchurch (New Zealand): He successfully defended his titles, winning consecutive gold medals in both the 400 metres and the 4×400m relay.
Steeplechase legend Amos Biwott and fellow Olympian Cherono Maiyo became partners for life after the 1972 Munich Games.
Steeple trailblazer Amos Biwott
Amos Biwott, the Steeplechase Trailblazer and 1968 Olympic champion earned one bronze medal during his Commonwealth career.
- 1970 Edinburgh (Scotland): Known for his unique technique of leaping entirely over barriers, he captured a bronze medal in the 3,000m steeplechase (8:30) behind fellow Kenyan Ben Jipcho.
- 1974 Christchurch (New Zealand): He concluded his international career by finishing eighth in the 3000m steeplechase.
Visiting the legends
As the rest of Kenyan delegation headed to Glasgow, we drove the other way to Gusiiland, Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties to catch up with these three legends who are also the only gold medallists alive from the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games in Mexico and Munich.
These are our true legends and we need to celebrate them as their successors push for gold in Glasgow.
We were delighted to see them cheerful and in good healtH and prayed to the God Almighty to continue granting them good health and a long life!
Admiring part of legend Amos Biwott’s medal collection…
Note:
Amos Biwott’s wife Cherono Maiyo was also a trailblazing Olympian, putting Kenyan women on the map when she competed at the 1972 Olympics in Munich in the 800m and 1,500m….
But she couldn’t outrun Biwott, her lifelong partner!
elias.makori@ymail.com
