Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | 1938 (age 78–79) Kericho, Kenya |
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | 400 m, 800 m |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | 400 m – 46.6 (1965) 800 m – 1:44.57 (1968) |
Wilson Chuma Kiprugut (born 1938) is a retired Kenyan sprinter and middle-distance runner. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won two medals in the 800 metres event; in 1964 he also ran 400 metres, but failed to reach the final. He was the first Kenyan athlete to win an Olympic medal.
At the 1962 Commonwealth Games he was part of the Kenyan 4×440 yards relay team which finished fifth. At the 1966 Commonwealth Games he won the 880 yards bronze medal. He won two gold medals (in the 400 and 800 metres) at the inaugural All-Africa Games in 1965.
In 2010 he was selected as World Sports Personality of the Year.
He grew up in Kericho and began running as a child while at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School. His talent was first identified when he ran at the East and Central African Championships – an event where he won no less than three 880-yard titles.