Kipchoge Keino
Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist.
Kipchoge Hezekiah Keino, born 17 January 1940 in Kipsamo, Nandi District, Kenya, is a retired Kenyan track and field athlete. His name, Kipchoge, comes from the Nandi language and means “born near the grain storage shed.” After his parents died, an aunt raised him. He finished school, joined the Kenya Police, and played rugby before turning to athletics.
Keino first competed internationally at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, where he placed eleventh in the three miles. At the 1964 Summer Olympics, he finished fifth in the 5000 metres and narrowly missed the 1500 metres final. On 27 August 1965, he set a 3000 metres world record of 7:39.6, his first attempt at the distance, shaving over six seconds off the previous mark. That same year, he won gold in both the 1500 and 5000 metres at the inaugural All-Africa Games and broke Ron Clarke’s 5000 metres world record with a time of 13:24.2. At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, he won the mile and three-mile runs. At the following Commonwealth Games, he took gold in the 1500 metres and bronze in the 5000 metres.
At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Keino won the 1500 metres gold medal, defeating American world record holder Jim Ryun by 20 metres—the largest winning margin in Olympic 1500 metres history—and earned silver in the 5000 metres. Four years later, at the 1972 Munich Olympics, he won gold in the 3000 metres steeplechase and silver in the 1500 metres. He served as Kenya’s flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of both the 1964 and 1972 Olympics. Keino retired from competition in 1973. He appeared on the cover of the October 1968 issue of *Track and Field News*, the first issue after those Olympics, and shared the cover of the September 1969 issue with Naftali Bon.
After retiring, Keino and his wife, Phyllis, focused on humanitarian work in Eldoret, Kenya. They founded the Lewa Children’s Home for orphans, the KipKeino Primary School in 1999, and the Kip Keino Secondary School in 2009. In 1987, *Sports Illustrated* named him one of eight “Athletes Who Care” as part of its Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year award. Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret was named after him in 1996. He received an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Bristol in 2007, and earlier an honorary degree from Egerton University in Nakuru. In July 2012, after the Kenyan Olympic Committee, under his leadership
- born
- 17 January 1940
- field
- Track and field athlete
- nationality
- Kenyan
- known_for
- Two-time Olympic gold medalist; 1500 m gold at 1968 Olympics; 3000 m steeplechase gold at 1972 Olympics; world records in 3000 m and 5000 m
Quick Facts
- Full Name
- Kipchoge Hezekieh Keino
- Birth Date
- 1940-01-17
- Birth Place
- Kipsamo, Nandi, Rift Valley, Kenya
- Height
- 173 cm
- Weight
- 66 kg
- Spouse
- Phyllis Keino
- Olympics
- 1964 Tokyo / 5000 m, 5th / 1500 m, 10th / 1968 Mexico City / 10,000 m, DNF / 5000 m, / 1500 m, / 1972 Munich / 3000 m steeple, / 1500 m
- Updated
- 10 June 2015
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Keino was born on 17 January 1940 in Kipsamo, Nandi District, Kenya. His name, Kipchoge, is a Nandi language expression for 'born near the grain storage shed.' His parents died when he was a youngster and he was raised by an aunt. After finishing school, he joined the Kenya Police. Before taking up athletics, he played rugby. He began his international career at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia where he came eleventh in the three miles. At the 1964 Summer Olympics he finished fifth in 5000 m and just missed qualification for the 1500 m final. On 27 August 1965, Keino lowered the 3000 m world record by over 6 seconds to 7:39.6 in his first attempt at the distance. He won two gold medals (1500 and 5000 metres) at the inaugural All-Africa Games. Later in that year, he broke the 5000 m world record held by Ron Clarke, clocking 13:24.2. At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, he won both the mile run and three-mile run. In the next Commonwealth Games, Keino won the 1500 metres and was third in the 5000 metres. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, he won the 1500 metres gold medal (defeating American favourite and world record holder Jim Ryun by 20 metres, the largest winning margin in the history of the event) and 5000 m silver medal. Four years later, he won the 3000 metres steeplechase gold and 1500 metres silver at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Keino was the flag bearer for Kenya in the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies. Keino retired in 1973.
Reader's Guide
Kipchoge Keino's significance lies in his pioneering role as one of the first Kenyan athletes to achieve international success in middle and long distance running, inspiring generations of Kenyan runners. His athletic achievements include two Olympic gold medals, world records in the 3000 m and 5000 m, and multiple Commonwealth Games titles. Beyond competition, he served as chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee and became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee in 2000. In 2012, he was among the inaugural inductees into the IAAF Hall of Fame. His humanitarian work with his wife Phyllis includes establishing the Lewa Children's Home for orphans, the KipKeino Primary School in 1999, and the Kip Keino Secondary School in 2009. He shared Sports Illustrated's 'Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year' award in 1987 for his work with orphans. In 2016, he received the first Olympic Laurel at the Rio de Janeiro opening ceremony for outstanding service to the Olympic movement. An asteroid, 39285 Kipkeino, was named in his honour in 2021.
Did You Know?
- Keino's name, Kipchoge, is a Nandi language expression for 'born near the grain storage shed.'
- He defeated American world record holder Jim Ryun by 20 metres in the 1968 Olympic 1500 m final, the largest winning margin in the event's history.
- He was awarded the first Olympic Laurel at the 2016 Olympic opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
- Asteroid 39285 Kipkeino, discovered in 1997, was named in his honour on 14 May 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kipchoge Keino?
Kipchoge Hezekiah Keino is a retired Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner born on 17 January 1940 in the Nandi District. His name, drawn from the Nandi language, translates to "born near the grain storage shed." He is best remembered as a two-time Olympic champion who dominated the 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
What are Kipchoge Keino's major Olympic achievements?
Keino captured the 1500 metres gold at the 1968 Mexico City Games and the 3000 metres steeplechase gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He had earlier placed fifth in the 5000 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Games before his breakthrough years arrived.
How did Kipchoge Keino get started in athletics?
After losing both parents, Keino was raised by an aunt in rural Kenya and completed his schooling before joining the Kenya Police force, where he also played rugby. He transitioned to distance running and first appeared on the international stage at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, where he finished eleventh in the three miles.
What world records did Kipchoge Keino hold?
During his competitive career, Keino set world records in both the 3000 metres and the 5000 metres. Those marks underscored his status as one of the fastest middle-distance runners of his generation.
Why is Kipchoge Keino considered important in track and field history?
Keino is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners ever, having won Olympic gold in two different events across two separate Games. His sustained dominance in the 1500 metres and steeplechase during the late 1960s and early 1970s helped establish Kenyan distance running as a global force.
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