Within 81 days, Kenyan track and field athlete Henry Rono set world records in the 3000-meters, 5000-meters, 10000-meters, and the 3000-meters steeplechase. No one in history has ever accomplished such a challenge. However, years later, his achievements did not matter much to him.
Rono stated, “Running to me was second nature. Education was my weakness.” Having been one of the most talented runners in history, Rono claims that his proudest accomplishment was a mastery of English after being enrolled in a community college. English, at that time, was Rono’s third language.
At an early age, Rono faced a bicycle accident that immobilized his ability to walk until the age of six. Around the same time of the accident, Rono’s father passed away in a tractor accident. These events left his family struggling to pay bills and to support education at the same time. Therefore, Rono was in and out of school frequently. At the age of 19, Rono finished seventh grade and discovered his passion for running.
At the height of Rono’s career in 1978, he broke a total of four world records. “But then, the next eight years are more-or-less a blank,” Rono reflected. It is said that the night before his 5000-meter, Rono got drunk and ran for an hour the following day to sweat out the alcohol and recover. After having run the morning, the same night, he set the world record with a time of 13:06.20.
Soon, alcohol would take its toll and prevent Rono from improving much. Eventually, Rono returned to school and progressed in poetry, grammar, and writing. In 2010, he published his memoir, “Olympic Dream.” In only one chapter does Rono mention his achievements. John Chaplin, the coach of a group of talented Kenyan runners, said, “He never talked about the records. He was not someone to go around and beat his chest and say ‘how great I am.’”
Rono stated, “Running to me was second nature. Education was my weakness.” Having been one of the most talented runners in history, Rono claims that his proudest accomplishment was a mastery of English after being enrolled in a community college. English, at that time, was Rono’s third language.
At an early age, Rono faced a bicycle accident that immobilized his ability to walk until the age of six. Around the same time of the accident, Rono’s father passed away in a tractor accident. These events left his family struggling to pay bills and to support education at the same time. Therefore, Rono was in and out of school frequently. At the age of 19, Rono finished seventh grade and discovered his passion for running.
At the height of Rono’s career in 1978, he broke a total of four world records. “But then, the next eight years are more-or-less a blank,” Rono reflected. It is said that the night before his 5000-meter, Rono got drunk and ran for an hour the following day to sweat out the alcohol and recover. After having run the morning, the same night, he set the world record with a time of 13:06.20.
Soon, alcohol would take its toll and prevent Rono from improving much. Eventually, Rono returned to school and progressed in poetry, grammar, and writing. In 2010, he published his memoir, “Olympic Dream.” In only one chapter does Rono mention his achievements. John Chaplin, the coach of a group of talented Kenyan runners, said, “He never talked about the records. He was not someone to go around and beat his chest and say ‘how great I am.’”
