The Athletics Kenya on Wednesday announced the death of Kenya’s first Olympic medallist, Wilson Kiprugut Chuma.
It was reported that Chume died on Tuesday in a hospital in the North-Western Kenyan town of Kericho after collapsing at his home.
The Athletic Kenya chief, Jackson Tuwei, during an interview with newsmen said;
“Chuma was one of the foremost athletes to put Kenya on the world map. It’s indeed a sad day for both Kenya and the entire athletics fraternity, He was an exceptional man.”
“Kiprugut’s medal from the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo is an extremely precious medal as it was Kenya’s first ever at the Olympic Games and inspired more athletes who were to follow to shine on the Olympic stage,” the federation said in a statement.’’
Chuma won the bronze in the 800m to make history in Kenya’s Olympic debut in Tokyo. He was beaten by the legendary New Zealander Peter Snell who won gold and second-placed Canadian William Crothers.
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico he took silver in the 800m, passed down the straight by Australia’s Ralph Doubell who went on to set a then world record of 1min 44.3sec.
After his retirement from the track, Chuma was employed as a field supervisor in tea plantations in Kericho owned by British multinational Unilever.
Wilson Kiprugut Chuma died at the age of 84.