Kericho Stadium renamed in honor of Kenya’s first Olympic Games medalist

By Tony Kipkorir

The famous Kericho Green Stadium has officially been renamed to Kiprugut Chumo Stadium after the late Wilson Kiprugut Arap Chumo who was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic Medal.

During this year’s Mashujaa day celebrations on October 20, President William Ruto had announced plans to change the name of the facility in honour of Chumo who won Kenya’s first medal in Tokyo 1964, 8 years after Kenya had entered the Olympics in 1956.

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Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, who presided over the renaming ceremony held on Saturday in Kericho described the late Chumo’s legacy as unbeatable and took the chance to thank his family.

“He cemented our heritage as a very young nation and positioned Kenya into the global community. You cannot beat that heritage. And so today on behalf of the ministry, and all the people of Kenya, we want to tell the family of the late Wilson Kiprugut Arap Chumo thank you,” Namwamba said.

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The CS further assured the family that the government will continue to support them and all other Kenyan legends.

Chumo, who died at the age of 84 after developing breathing problems at his home in Kipchebor village, Ainamoi Constituency in November 2022, was the first Kenyan and African athlete to win the coveted Olympic Games medal.

He achieved the great feat at the 1964 Tokyo Games when he bagged a bronze medal in the 800m race.

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At the first ever All Africa Games staged in Congo, Chumo also won two gold medals (800m and 400m) for Kenya.

He ended his career by winning a silver medal at the 1968 Olympic Games by clocking 1:44.77 in the 800m race behind Australia’s Ralph Doubell.

While renaming the 10,000 seater stadium, Namwamba also met the Kenyan team which did exemplary at the 2023 African Masters Championship held in South Africa.

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The squad that was made up of ten runners finished second behind the hosts, clinching a total of 24 medals (20 gold and 4 silver). One of the gold medals was won by the 59-year-old popular road race runner Priscilla Biwott.

The event was graced by local leaders and representatives from Athletics Kenya including President Jackson Tuwei.

Charles Asati and Hezekiah Nyamu who won the 4x400m Gold medal in 1972, Robert Kioni coach to the late Samuel Wanjiru, and the exceptional former hurdler Rose Tata-Muya were also at the event.

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