Discover the legends of athletics in our monthly feature ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’
Kip Keino
The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City saw the emergence of African athletes as Olympic track champions. Prior to 1968, no African athlete had won Gold in an Olympic middle distance event. The brilliant Ethiopian Adebe Bikila had won the Olympic Marathon in 1960 (barefoot) and 1964, and a handful of South African athletes had won Gold in sprint and field events down through the years but this was a breakthrough moment for African athletics. In fact it was a seismic shift, with Mohammed Gammoudi (Tunisia) 5000m, Naftali Temu (Kenya) 10000m, Amos Biwott (Kenya) 3000m Steeplechase, and Kip Keino (Kenya) 1500m all winning Gold. Of these champions, it was Keino who shone brightest in the elevated surroundings (over 2000m above sea level) of Mexico City.
When viewers around the world tuned in to the main event, the 1500m Olympic Final, they would have expected to see World Record holder and star American athlete Jim Ryun to the fore. Instead they were greeted by the long stride of Kip Keino in his white singlet and red shorts. In the early laps, Keino's compatriot Ben Jipcho set the pace before Keino made his move and inspired David Coleman’s' famous commentary "Keino hits the front with two laps to go, the Kenyans are really trying to make the height of 7000ft of Mexico City tell on the World Record holder (Jim Ryun). THE PACE NEAR SUICIDAL ... well inside a world record pace". Keino's tactic was to be ferocious, to build an insurmountable lead and not allow Ryun to use his superior finishing kick. He had 20 metres on Ryun when they hit the bell, and he held this through the back straight, finishing in an Olympic best and winning by the greatest margin in the event's history. The race epitomised Keino's bravery, style and tenacity.
Keino may have been a new name to many of the people tuning in on that October evening but he had already established himself as an elite amongst the elite by setting World Records in the 3000m and 5000m in 1965 and winning two Golds at the Commonwealth games in 1966. The slender policeman from Kipsamo would have been comfortable at altitude having spent his life training in the Rift Valley 6000 ft above sea level. His success and that of his fellow Kenyans triggered an immediate interest in altitude training and its benefits on distance running. As a boy, Keino ran 16 miles as part of his daily school commute and helped his Aunt herd goats in the mountainous region around Eldoret. This unintentional training, barefoot and at altitude, laid the foundation for an incredible athletic career.
Kip Keino’s glorious success in the 1500m final was only part of his ‘68 Olympic story. As captain of the Kenyan team, he had also qualified for the 5000m and 10000m events. Despite suffering from violent stomach pains caused by a gall bladder infection, Keino decided to run the 10000m. With two laps to go, the pain became too much and he collapsed into the infield. His compatriot Temu going on to victory and securing Kenya’s first Olympic Gold. Keino refused to allow the medics to carry him off instead insisting on finishing out the remaining laps. He had been warned by team doctors not to compete, his infection so severe that any strain on his body could cause him serious harm or even death. Two days later and unperturbed by the doctors advice, Keino won silver in the 5000m, one fifth of a second behind Tunisian Gammoudi. On the day of the 1500m final, Keino was again visited by the team doctor who told him not to run. But he was adamant, and once the doctor left, he got dressed and grabbed a bus to the Estadio Olympico Universitario. The bus got stuck in the afternoon traffic and Keino ran the final mile to the stadium, arriving just as the runners were called. The incident would inspire many stories of ‘the Olympian who was late for his race’ and only helped to grow Keino’s legend.
Kip Keino would shine again at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, winning Gold in the 3000m Steeplechase and Silver in the 1500m (behind Finnish athlete Pekka Vasala). For the best part of the decade between 1963 and his retirement in 1973, Keino was one of the world’s greatest athletes, winning 11 medals (7 Gold) at major championships. However, it was that special October evening in Mexico City that defined Kip Keino’s career and inspired generations of young Kenyan athletes.
3 May 2022