Back in the 1970s, during Track and field’s booming years, everyone knewwho Henry Rono was. But, because his Olympic dreams were thwarted by Kenyan boycotts in the 1976 and 1980 summer games, he never gained the glory he deserved.
In 1978, Rono had one of the best seasons in his career. Over 81 days, as a 26-year-old Washington State sophomore, he set world records in four events: the 3,000 meters,
5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. It is rare that a runner can break new ground over 25 laps and have the speed to do 7 and a half laps with barriers.
Rono, decades later thinks that his track achievements barely matters. Instead, he is proud of attending community college and mastering English. He says that running was second nature, but education was his weakness.
“I’ve been to the top of the highest mountain and then down to the bottom of the world. Looking back now, I can remember what happened in 1978 (when he set world records over 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the 3000m steeplechase) but then the next eight years are more-or-less a blank,” reflected Rono calmly.
Those eight years were marred by his worsening alcohol addiction. World Athletics reports, “There is an often-told story that, in September 1981, Rono got drunk the night before he was due to run a 5000m in Knarvik, near Oslo. The following day he ran for an hour in the morning to sweat out the alcohol and recover from the hangover and that night set a World record of 13:06.20.”
Rono acknowledges the facts are broadly true and it is a testament to his phenomenal physical ability that he was able to achieve such a feat, but it was also to be his last entry into the record books. The drinking soon took its toll and he had reached his final mountain peak.
Then, on the following July, Rono lost a particular world record to Britain’s David Moorcroft and finished fourth. By 1984, with Kenya returning to the Olympic arena after boycotting the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, Rono’s drinking problem was so severe, he wasn’t able to compete on the global stage.
It wasn’t until 15 years later that he was able to get a grip on his alcohol problem in the late 1990s.
“What I am doing in my life right now is like a gold medal to me. The issue of not going to the 1980 Olympics is now behind me and so too are the problems I had for 21 years from 1978.” Henry says.
Now Rono hopes that his example will help many of his compatriots, runners, and non-runners alike, to take a look at their own lives and those around them.
In 1978, Rono had one of the best seasons in his career. Over 81 days, as a 26-year-old Washington State sophomore, he set world records in four events: the 3,000 meters,
5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. It is rare that a runner can break new ground over 25 laps and have the speed to do 7 and a half laps with barriers.
Rono, decades later thinks that his track achievements barely matters. Instead, he is proud of attending community college and mastering English. He says that running was second nature, but education was his weakness.
“I’ve been to the top of the highest mountain and then down to the bottom of the world. Looking back now, I can remember what happened in 1978 (when he set world records over 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the 3000m steeplechase) but then the next eight years are more-or-less a blank,” reflected Rono calmly.
Those eight years were marred by his worsening alcohol addiction. World Athletics reports, “There is an often-told story that, in September 1981, Rono got drunk the night before he was due to run a 5000m in Knarvik, near Oslo. The following day he ran for an hour in the morning to sweat out the alcohol and recover from the hangover and that night set a World record of 13:06.20.”
Rono acknowledges the facts are broadly true and it is a testament to his phenomenal physical ability that he was able to achieve such a feat, but it was also to be his last entry into the record books. The drinking soon took its toll and he had reached his final mountain peak.
Then, on the following July, Rono lost a particular world record to Britain’s David Moorcroft and finished fourth. By 1984, with Kenya returning to the Olympic arena after boycotting the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, Rono’s drinking problem was so severe, he wasn’t able to compete on the global stage.
It wasn’t until 15 years later that he was able to get a grip on his alcohol problem in the late 1990s.
“What I am doing in my life right now is like a gold medal to me. The issue of not going to the 1980 Olympics is now behind me and so too are the problems I had for 21 years from 1978.” Henry says.
Now Rono hopes that his example will help many of his compatriots, runners, and non-runners alike, to take a look at their own lives and those around them.
