Running Away to Glory

One evening, as I switched on the television set, I saw an old man running. He looked more than 75 years old but was running with ease. Funnily, he was running with a formal suit. Wondered why…was he running after someone who had stolen his wallet or running after his errant randchild.

Rewind

The year was 1945. In the African continent a young lad of five was on his way to school. There was no school bus and no cycle and the boy would run everyday after kissing his aunt, who took care of him, for he had lost both his parents when very young. Later he told someone, “When I started at primary school, I ran barefoot miles to school in the morning, came back for lunch and again in the afternoon ran back to school and then was back home again in the evening. I did this everyday until I left school.” Only sixteen miles a day for over 10 years in Kenyan heat.

The boy grew up and joined the police as an instructor with interest in rugby. It was much later that he realized that he could run well and run fast. Thus began the story of Kipchage Hezekiah Keino or Kip Keino as the world knows him. At this point in history Kenya was not known to be a middle and long distance powerhouse winning almost all medals in all competitions. Kip Keino is the man who began this trend that has continued till date. Keino is also best known for his training at 1800 metres above sea level which helped introduce high-altitude training as a technique to improve running.

Although Kip Keino participated in 1964 Tokyo Olympics, his first moment of real glory came in 1965 when in the All-African Games, he broke two World Records in 1500 metres and 5000 metres. In 1966 Commonwealth Games he won two gold medals. Kip is however best known for his feat in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. During the Games Kip was suffering from crippling gallstones. While running the 10,000 metres race, Kip collapsed while he was in the lead with three laps to go. He was so overwhelmed with pain that he stepped off the track, but determined to finish the race he stumbled on to the track and despite the pain managed to do the final laps. Naftali Temu of Kenya won the race and became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal, an honour that almost went to Kip.

Two days later, despite the doctor advising him against competing, Kip ran the 5000M and won a  silver medal, just a fifth of a second behind the winner. Next, he went on to qualify for the finals of the 1500M race. Jim Ryun of the USA was the undefeated champion in the event and he was not participating in any other event unlike Kip who was doing almost all the middle distance races one after another. Five gruelling races in all for Kip with heats and finals.

On the day of the 1500M finals, he decided to sleep and thought of skipping the race due to gallstones. However, an hour before the actual event, Kip hopped out of bed and headed for the games. The bus ferrying him got stuck in bad traffic and realising that he was going to be late, Kip got off the bus and ran the remaining two miles to the Olympic stadium carrying his equipment on his back. He finally registered for the event with just 20 minutes to spare. No sooner had the race started than Kip went ahead and won the Gold Medal outpacing the second placed runner by 20 metres which possibly remains the longest distance anyone has won by in this event even to date.

In the Munich Games of 1972, Kip Keino went on to win gold medal in 3000M steeple chase and a silver in 1500M. Kip retired from athletics in 1973 and in a glorious career won over a dozen medals more than half of which were gold.

There was much more to come from this remarkable Kenyan legend. Kip and his wife purchased a farm in Eldoret which they converted it into an orphanage. “We started with two children, then it went on to six, then ten. Now it’s up to 90. We give them shelter and love. Many of these children, who lived with us, have gone to the university, some are doctors, and when you see them with their own families living well in society, I feel very happy,” he had said some time ago. Now the school has more than 300 children.

Fast Forward

It was 5^th of August 2016, the suited man went up the podium at the Macarana Stadium at Rio to receive the first Olympic Laurel, a distinction created by International Olympic Committee to honour an outstanding sportsman for his contribution to education, culture, development and peace through sports.. While receiving the award, Kip said, “We come into this world with nothing…and depart with nothing…it’s what we can contribute that is our legacy. Join me and support all the youth of this world to get the basics of humanity: food, shelter and education. Education not only empowers our youth to be better citizens and leaders of the future, but it will also help them make a positive change and a mighty difference.”

The Unputdownable!

Have you heard about a man called Karoly Takacs? Not many have but here’s a short story about another champion who defied all odds and disability to win and become a legend.

Karoly Takacs was born in Budapest and joined the Hungarian Army. By 1936, he was a world class pistol shooter but he was denied a place in the Hungarian team for the Berlin Games of 1936 as only commissioned officers were allowed to compete and he was just a sergeant. This discriminatory ban was lifted in Hungary after 1936 and Karoly got ready for the 1940 Tokyo Games. But as luck would have it, during an army training in 1938, he badly injured his shooting right arm when a faulty grenade exploded.  Any other man would have been devastated as his sporting career looked over. Not Karoly.

Karoly spent the next one month in the hospital, depressed at his Olympic dreams having been shattered. Takcas, rather than fall into depression and self pity, did the unthinkable. He decided to learn shooting with his left hand. He simply asked himself, “ Why not?” Karoly practised in secret and when the Hungarian National Pistol Shooting Championship was held in 1939 he registered. All the participants had no clue and were generally sympathising for him. Karoly surprised everyone and won the championship and qualified to be a part of the 1940 Olympics squad.

Wait, said fate, as both 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II. Karoly went on practising with the same determination and his time came in the London Games of 1948. By now he was 38 years old but neither age nor change of hand could stop him from winning the Gold Medal. He not only beat the favourite Argentine, Carlos Enrique Diaz Saenz Valiente, who was the reigning world champion but also set a new world record. Karoly then went on to represent his country in 1952 Helsinki Games and won a Silver Medal but missed winning at the age of 50 at the 1956 Melbourne Games.

Karoly Takacs later went on to coach his countrymen in pistol shooting.

Last Word in the words of Jesse Owens, “We all have dreams. But in order for dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.” 

SS