Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Kenya Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
He won the 10,000 metres at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, outkicking Mamo Wolde on the last lap — the first Olympic gold medal Kenya ever won, and the start of everything that followed.
Naftali Temu was a soldier in the Kenya Army from Kisii who had won the six miles at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.
At Mexico City in 1968 — at altitude, which suited runners from the Kenyan highlands and undid almost everyone else — he took the 10,000 metres, coming past the Ethiopian Mamo Wolde in the final lap. It was the first Olympic gold medal in Kenya's history. He added a bronze in the 5,000 metres behind Kip Keino's team-mates a few days later.
That single race is the hinge. Kenya arrived at Mexico City with no Olympic title and left with three golds, and has since won more Olympic medals in distance running than any country on earth. Temu was the first. He died in 2003 after years of ill health, and the Kenyan athletics establishment was widely criticised for having let him go into poverty.
At Mexico City in 1968 — at altitude, which suited runners from the Kenyan highlands and undid almost everyone else — he took the 10,000 metres, coming past the Ethiopian Mamo Wolde in the final lap. It was the first Olympic gold medal in Kenya's history. He added a bronze in the 5,000 metres behind Kip Keino's team-mates a few days later.
That single race is the hinge. Kenya arrived at Mexico City with no Olympic title and left with three golds, and has since won more Olympic medals in distance running than any country on earth. Temu was the first. He died in 2003 after years of ill health, and the Kenyan athletics establishment was widely criticised for having let him go into poverty.
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