Kenya’s Kip Keino revels in Olympic Laurel

The acclaimed father of Kenyan athletics, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, rolled back the years at the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics as he ran to the stage to receive the first ever Olympic Laurel in Rio-de-Janeiro.

International Olympics Committee president, Thomas Bach, presented the retired two-time Olympics champion and chairman of the country’s Olympics body before the 31st Summer Games were officially declared open.

The Olympic Laurel recognised his outstanding achievements in the fields of education, culture, development and peace through sport.

Kip Keino then gave a heartfelt speech in accepting the honour.

The Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972 Olympics champion thanked his supporters, then told the athletes inside Maracana Stadium that he had a humble request.

“Join me and support all the youth of this world to get the basics of humanity: food, shelter and education.

“Education not only empowers our youth to be better citizens and leaders of the future, but it will also help them make a positive change and a mighty difference.”

The latest recognition is another milestone in the life of the man who is credited with changing the face of Kenyan distance running.

Kip Keino, a former Kenya Police officer who was in Founding Father, President Jomo Kenyatta’s security detail, has established the Kip Keino Schools in Eldoret that take in orphaned children.

Soon after his election as IOC President, Bach travelled to Kenya to visit the secondary school where he commissioned an ultra modern computer lab and other facilities.