Kenya’s first athlete to win an Olympic medal Wilson Kiprugut has died aged 84, Athletics Kenya has announced.

The middle-distance legend died in Kericho County in Kenya on Wednesday evening after a long illness.

Kiprugut success

Kiprugut made his breakthrough on the international stage after winning the bronze medal in the 800 metres race at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He went on to win a silver medal in the same race in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. He won two gold medals in the 400 and 800 metres at the first All-African Games held in Congo-Brazzaville in 1965.

In a statement, Athletics Kenya eulogised him as “a truly loveable and kind person who selflessly made the country proud on the global stage”.