Nairobi: The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) joined Kenyans in mourning the passing on of Hezekiah Nyamao, one of Kenya's earliest Olympic gold medallists. Nyamao, a sports legend aged 88 years from Kiogoro Ward in Kisii County, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.
According to Kenya News Agency, in a statement to the media, NOC-K noted that the sports veteran will be remembered as one of the Kenyan quartet (Hezekiah Nyamao, Robert Ouko, Julius Sang and Charles Asati) of the legendary 4x400m relay team that won Olympic gold at the 1972 Munich Games and silver at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
The late Nyamao was also a Commonwealth Games champion at the 1970 competitions in Edinburgh, where he helped Kenya to win gold in the 4x400m relay in a time of 3:03.63. Beyond the track, the legend served the nation with distinction as a soldier in the Kenya Defence Forces from 1963 until his retirement in 1997.
NOC-K recalled the unforgettable comeback at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Kenya's relay team recovered from a dropped baton and surged from eighth place to claim gold, remaining one of the most remarkable and inspiring moments in Olympic history.
The athlete's death comes barely a fortnight after the passing of another great Kenyan athlete, Jairus Birech, a 3000m steeplechase star and former gold medallist, who represented Kenya with pride.
'As we celebrate the lives and legacies of our heroes, NOC-K calls for enhanced collaboration between the government, sports federations, and institutions to ensure that our retired athletes are supported, celebrated, and empowered beyond their years on the track,' read part of the statement.
Similarly, Athletics Kenya described Nyamao as a trailblazer in Kenyan sprinting and a pioneer who carried the nation's flag with pride at a time when few believed Kenya's athletic excellence could extend beyond distance running. 'Kenya has lost a giant of the sport, a man whose humility, discipline and excellence helped shape the nation's sprinting legacy and inspired generations of athletes,' said a statement from the Federation.