Wilson Kiprugut Explained

Wilson Arap Chuma Kiprugut
Birth Place:Kericho, British Kenya
Death Place:Kericho, Kenya
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)
Weight:71kg (157lb)
Sport:Athletics
Event:400 m, 800 m
Pb:400 m: 46.6 (1965)
800 m: 1:44.57 (1968)
Show-Medals:yes

Wilson Arap Chuma Kiprugut (1938 – 1 November 2022) was a Kenyan sprinter and middle-distance runner. He competed at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico Olympics and won two medals in the 800 metres event; in 1964 he also ran 400 metres, but failed to reach the final.[1] He was the first person from Kenya ever to win an Olympic medal.[2] [3]

At the 1962 Commonwealth Games, Kiprugut was part of the Kenyan 4 × 440 yards relay team which finished fifth.[4] At the 1966 Commonwealth Games, he won the 880 yards silver medal. He won two gold medals (in the 400 and 800 metres) at the inaugural All-Africa Games in 1965.[5]

In 2010, he won the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year award.[6]

Kiprugut grew up in Kericho and began running as a child while at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School.[2] His talent was first identified when he ran at the East and Central African Championships – an event where he won no less than three 880-yard titles.[7]

Kiprugut died on 1 November 2022, at the age of 84.[8]

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171141/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ki/wilson-kiprugut-1.html Wilson Kiprugut
  2. Tanui, Nikko (27 November 2013). Wilson Kiprugut Chumo: Champion who brought first medal to Kenyan soil. Kenya Standard. Retrieved on 2015-07-12.
  3. Web site: 2022-11-02 . Kiprugut, Kenya's first ever Olympic medallist, dies . 2022-11-02 . World Athletics.
  4. The Standard, 1 February 2003: Antao put Kenya on world map
  5. http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/afg.htm Wilson Kiprugut
  6. http://www.soyaawards.com/previous-winners/ SOYA Awards - Previous Winners
  7. http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ecafc.htm East and Central African Championships
  8. News: Wilson Kiprugut: Kenya's first Olympic medalist dead at 84 . 2 November 2022 . Michezo Afrika . 2 November 2022.