Henry Rono, one of the most talented runners of all time, says that breaking four world records in 1978 was not his most significant achievement. He advocates that his improvement and eventual perfection of English was what he was proudest of.
After being accepted into a university in Washington, Rono quickly became an insuperable force in running. When he demolished four world records, he was unmatched, had an unhealthy diet, and a stride that was not as smooth as his peers’. He won with sheer power and determination. Rono had both the speed to dominate sprints and the endurance for longer races at Olympic levels.
Still, Rono knew the importance of education. He said that “[l]earning to read and write as a child is the foundation to education. It opens many doors of opportunity.” Even so, he was 19 when he finished seventh grade because of financial issues.
Sadly, Rono’s glory vanished. He was so overworked, he had begun developing a drinking issue, and he was feckless with his money. He had no residence and was forced to pick up many jobs. Eventually, he had enough struggling with rent and returned to Kenya, his birth country, to live in his brother’s house.
Because of his intermittent early school life, Rono began to study English in the 1990’s in hopes of improving. This led to the later publication of his own memoir.
Despite always being grateful for running as it gave him a passage beyond his small village, Rono never saw the gravity in what he had done. He said, “[r]unning to me was second nature.” To him, without the proper work, an achievement held no value, and something that was toiled for was the most important achievement.
article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1657470344211x675123863612799400/Henry%20Rono%E2%80%99s%20Long%20Road%20Back%20Home%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
After being accepted into a university in Washington, Rono quickly became an insuperable force in running. When he demolished four world records, he was unmatched, had an unhealthy diet, and a stride that was not as smooth as his peers’. He won with sheer power and determination. Rono had both the speed to dominate sprints and the endurance for longer races at Olympic levels.
Still, Rono knew the importance of education. He said that “[l]earning to read and write as a child is the foundation to education. It opens many doors of opportunity.” Even so, he was 19 when he finished seventh grade because of financial issues.
Sadly, Rono’s glory vanished. He was so overworked, he had begun developing a drinking issue, and he was feckless with his money. He had no residence and was forced to pick up many jobs. Eventually, he had enough struggling with rent and returned to Kenya, his birth country, to live in his brother’s house.
Because of his intermittent early school life, Rono began to study English in the 1990’s in hopes of improving. This led to the later publication of his own memoir.
Despite always being grateful for running as it gave him a passage beyond his small village, Rono never saw the gravity in what he had done. He said, “[r]unning to me was second nature.” To him, without the proper work, an achievement held no value, and something that was toiled for was the most important achievement.
article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1657470344211x675123863612799400/Henry%20Rono%E2%80%99s%20Long%20Road%20Back%20Home%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
