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By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Sammy Wanjiru - The world best marathon runner
Who is Wanjiru?
Picture 1 - Sammy Wanjiru won the Beijing Olympics 2008
Picture 1 - Sammy Wanjiru won the Beijing Olympics 2008
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in the marathon. At 21, he had the promise to dominate the distance for another decade.
Jos Hermens, a long-distance expert and manager of Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, told The Associated Press. "He could have won two, three more Olympic Games. He was an incredible talent."
Wanjiru, who won five of his seven marathons and was the youngest runner to win four "major" marathons, died late Sunday at his home in the town of Nyahururu, in the Rift Valley, the cradle of Kenyan long-distance running.
In addition to the Olympics, Wanjiru won the London Marathon in 2009 and in Chicago in 2009 and 2010, in the process running the fastest ever time recorded in a marathon in the United States.
Mystery on how he died?
Picture 2 - Journalists and friends at the Wanjiru's house where he died
Peter gambaccini, from the runners' world mentioned that Samuel Wanjiru, the reigning Olympic Marathon champion and a former world record holder, died early Monday morning after falling from a balcony at his home in Nyahururu, Kenya.
According to various news reports, Wanjiru, 24, may have jumped in the aftermath of a confrontation with his wife, Triza Njeri. The fall was from a second-floor balcony during a domestic dispute involving his wife and another woman, officials said on Monday.
In another report, it was claimed that there were two other women who claimed they were also married to Wanjiru. Polygamy is common practice for many Kenyan tribes.
Nyahururu police chief Jaspher Ombati told Reuters that officers are investigating whether the death was intentional. "It is not yet clear whether it was a suicide or if he jumped out of rage, or what caused him to fall to the ground," Ombati said.
In another article, Ombati speculated that Wanjiru was trying to prevent Njeri from leaving. “He is not here to tell us what he was thinking when he jumped," Obmati said. "We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation, he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound.”
Associated Press reported that Ombati mentioned that the balcony is between 13 and 19 feet high. He said the runner landed on a hard surface. David Monti of Race Results Weekly broke the news, confirmed by Wanjiru's manager late on the night when he died.
Picture 3 - It was mentioned that Paul Tergat has paid tribute to this fine young world marathon runner.
Tribute to Wanjiru - The Great Marathoner from Kenya
Picture 3 - It was mentioned that Paul Tergat has paid tribute to this fine young world marathon runner.
Tribute to Wanjiru - The Great Marathoner from Kenya
(TOM ODULA wrote on comments by well-wishers of Wanjiru in Associated Press reported on May 16, at Nairobi)
Haile Gebrselassie: Totally shocked (in twitter). My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues. Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga: steadily developing into our country's running phenomenon. He offered condolences to family, friends, Kenya and the entire world athletics community, calling the death "a big blow to our dreams."
Kenenisa Bekele: I was looking forward to meeting him in the future at the marathon distance and to race against him.
CEO Mary Wittenberg: We'll miss his confidence, bravado, guts and heart. The sport is down a game-changing megastar today. How very sad for all.
David Bedford: Was, in my opinion, the best marathon runner ever.
Jos Herrmens: An Olympic champion at 21, he was poised to become the world-record holder in the marathon. He could not deal with all the luxury. It all went too fast, too much money. You could not say anything bad about him. He just could not deal with it all. He was a lion of a man, and he departed us in much the same way.
International Olympic Committee: Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
The author's thoughts are with Wanjiru's family and friends as well.
The author's thoughts are with Wanjiru's family and friends as well.
