Top 6 Kenyan Greatest Marathoners Of All Time
Kenyan marathoners dominates the charts with their prowess in the track. Photos courtesy
Kenya is known as the heart of Greatest marathoners in Africa and the whole world. In the world’s athletics history, Kenyan marathoners dominates the charts with their prowess in the track. Despite earning the nation, a lot of praises and recognition across all parts of the world these marathoners have also made millions of money by their names for winning different races. In this article we will look at some Greatest marathoners that have represented the country in the world stage.
6. Kipchoge Keino
He is the pioneer marathoner in Kenya’s athletics history, the veteran marathoner who turned 84 years last month is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee (KOC) until 29th September of 2017. Keino once narrated his story of how he was once chased by a buffalo where he outran it before he hopped onto a tree, where he rested until the buffalo went away. Being the Greatest marathoner of all time, in 2020 Kip Keino Classic track and field event was established and named after him.
READ ALSO: Eliud Kipchoge From Milk Vendor to Greatest Marathoner of All Time; List of Properties He Owns
5. Faith Kipyegon
The 30-year-old Faith Kipyegon is regarded as one of the Greatest woman marathoners Kenya has ever produced. She is the current world record holder for the 1500 metres and mile, both set in 2023. She has also won two gold medals in Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and Tokyo Olympics in 2020 for 1500 metres races. Kipyegon has also bagged four other gold medals in 2017 world championships 1500m races, 2022 Eugene World championships before her historical triumph in 2023 Budapest World Championship where she won gold medals in both 1500m and 5000m. The mother of one beautiful daughter has won 6 gold medals and two silver medals her senior marathoner career.
4. David Lekuta Rudisha
The Narok County born star who hails from Maasai community started his career back in 2009 where he competed in World Championship where he managed to reach 800 metres semi-finals which marked the start of his beautiful career. Rudisha became the first and only person to ever run 800 metres under 1:41, and he holds the three fastest, six of the eight fastest, and half of the twenty fastest times ever run in this event.
The legendary 800 metres record holder who is commonly referred by his fans as ‘King David’ has a wife and 2 daughters with his firstborn daughter enrolled to form one this year.
3.Pamela Jelimo
Jelimo is known not just in Kenya but internationally after she broke the 800m world record and at only 18 years and became the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold in Beijing. Jelimo was also the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot worth $1,000,000 (Ksh. 160,000,000). The veteran athlete has a street named after her in Kapsabet town in Nandi County.
2. Ezekiel Kemboi
The 41 year old legendary marathoner flown Kenyan flag in world stage in 3000 metres races where he went on to bag seven gold medals, 5 silver medals and one bronze medal in throughout his career. Kemboi is known for his spectacle trademark celebratory sign in almost all the races he won.
1. Eliud Kipchoge
No doubt Eliud Kipchoge is the Greatest marathoner of all time in the world and Kenya’s famous athlete. In 2019 the legendary marathoner became the first human recorded in history to break the two-hour barrier over a marathon distance during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria. However, this run did not count as a new Marathon record as standard competition rules for pacing and fluids were not followed. Kipchoge has won 16 out 19 marathons he participated in making the world’s Greatest marathoner. He is married to Grace Segut and are blessed with 3 children who live in Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
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