David Rudisha’s father, Daniel Rudisha, died on Thursday. An image has emerged showing the Rudisha Senior with the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Other athletes in the photo are Kipchoge Keino, Charles Asati, Naftali Temu and Robert Ouko.
Rudisha alongside Hezekiah Nyamao, Charles Asati and Naftali placed Kenya firmly on the global athletics map in 1968 when they struck silver in the 4×400 metres relay at the Mexico Olympic Games.
That firm foundation they laid led to Asati and Nyamao teaming up with Robert Ouko and Julius Sang four years later in Munich to elevate the title to gold, Kenya’s and Africa’s only Olympic gold medal ever in the 4x400m relay.
He is among the first lot of athletes who represented the country, not for monetary gains but for the love of the game.
His love for athletics inspired one of his sons, David, to take up athletics and he is currently the world 800m record holder and two-time Olympic champion.
He also inspired the Konchella brothers – Billy and Patrick – to continue with the athletics legacy in Kilgoris with the former winning two 800m world titles.
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