Henry Rono
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Henry Rono (born February 12, 1952) is a former Kenyan athlete, considered a seminal figure of Kenyan distance running.
[edit] Biography
Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into the Nandi tribe. He attended the Washington State University, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa, also a talented runner. He was coached there by John Chaplin. More Kenyan runners would later enroll at the Washington State, including Bernard Lagat, Mike Kosgei, Mike Boit, and Patrick Muturi.
The peak of Rono's running career was the 1978 season. In a span of only 81 days, he broke four world records: the 10,000 meters, the 5,000 meters, the 3,000 meters steeplechase, and the 3,000 meters — an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. In the same year he also won the 5000 m and the 3000 m steeplechase gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately, it is believed that there are no video recordings of any of his 1978 record-breaking races.
Rono would never compete at quite the same level again. In the following years he developed a drinking problem and started to gain weight. His immense talent only showed once more in 1981, when he improved on his 5,000 m world record, reportedly after having spent the better part of the race day sobering up from a drinking binge on the night before. Also, Rono would never get to compete at the Olympics, as his country boycotted both the 1976 and the 1980 Olympic Games.
The years after retirement have been particularly hard for Rono. Apart from struggling with alcoholism, he apparently mismanaged his earnings, probably because he never had an agent or a financial adviser. He was soon penniless and in the 1990s spent some time in a homeless shelter in Washington D.C..
Despite his relatively short career, Rono continues to be celebrated in athletic circles. His 3,000 m steeplechase world record (8:05.4) lasted for 11 years, and as of 2005 still stands as the NCAA record.
Today Rono has recovered from alcoholism and is coaching high school athletics in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is attempting to break the world masters mile record for the 55-59 age group after he turns 55 in February 2007.
