President William Ruto has renamed Kericho Green Stadium to Wilson Kiprugut, who was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal since the country’s inaugural participation in the Olympic Games in 1956.
He made the announcement on Friday during the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations at the stadium.
“Allow me to celebrate Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal, by renaming the Kericho Green Stadium after him,” he said.
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Wilson Kiprugut clinched a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, a feat he followed up with a silver medal in the same event at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
His athletic’s journey begun when he was still a student at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School in the 1950s.
His talent was soon recognized, and he was scouted by the Kenyan Army during the 1958 East African Championships.
Further, he participated in the 1962 Commonwealth Games, held in Perth, Australia, before retiring from competitive athletics in 1969.
After his retirement, Kiprugut continued to contribute to the world of sports as a coach and fitness instructor within the Kenyan army.
He received recognition as the 2010 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year and was honored with the ‘Hall of Fame’ award.
He passed on in 2022 at the age of 84 marked a somber moment for his home county of Kericho.
