President William Ruto has renamed the Kericho Green Stadium where the Mashujaa Day celebrations were held.
President William Ruto has renamed the Kericho Green Stadium to the Wilson Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in honor of the late Chumo’s dominant exploits at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that saw him bag Kenya’s first medal on the stage.
The President made the announcement during the Mashujaa Day Celebrations staged at the very stadium that was renamed.
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The President explained that the move was made to honour the late athlete who was one of the pioneers of Kenyan athletes.
“Allow me to celebrate Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan athlete to win an Olympic medal by renaming this Kericho Green Stadium after him, I think he deserves it,” said President Ruto, as quoted by Citizen Digital.
Chumo was a legendary athlete who placed Kenya on the world map after winning her first title at the Summer Games in 1964 during the Tokyo Olympic Games. He clocked an impressive time of 1:45.90 to bag the gold medal in the 800m.
During his prime days, Chumo also bagged a silver medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games before claiming another silver at the 1968 Olympic Games, both in the two-lap race.
He also won two gold medals at the 1965 All Africa Games held in Brazzaville, Congo. The late athlete’s budding talent began to blossom during the East and Central African Championships where he won three 880-yard titles in 1958.
Meanwhile, the veteran athlete was born and raised in Kericho, and being named after the stadium is a great honour to him.
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It is noted that he took up running during his time at Kaptebeswet Primary School and later Sitowet Intermediate School. He hung his spikes in 1969 but continued working as a coach and fitness instructor in the Kenyan army for another five years.