As of: February 17, 2024, 1:06 p.m
By: Melanie Gottschalk
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In 1978, Henry Rono set an incredible world record - but later had repeated problems.
Now he has died.
Munich – Anyone who delves into the history of athletics cannot ignore the name Henry Rono.
The Kenyan set a special world record for long-distance running in 1978.
But success had its downside.
Years later he spoke about his alcohol addiction, his crash and how he escaped “hell”.
Now Kenya's athletics is mourning the loss of its former long-distance hero Henry Rono.
The multiple world record holder died on Thursday at the age of 72 in the capital Nairobi, as the national association Athletics Kenya announced.
Long-distance runner Henry Rono sets an unparalleled world record
After his victories at the Commenwealth Games in 1978 in the 3000 meter steeplechase and 5000 meter, Rono achieved an incomparable series of world records.
Within 81 days he improved the records in the 3000 meters, 3000 meters steeplechase, 5000 meters and 10,000 meters.
While his world records of 7:32.1 minutes over 3000 meters and 8:05.4 minutes over the obstacle distance were only broken eleven years later, he beat his 5000 meter world record three years later to 13:06. 12 minutes.
Despite his brilliant racing, Rono never competed in the Olympic Games.
During its sporting heyday, Kenya boycotted both the 1976 Games in Montreal and four years later in Moscow.
He was also unable to take part in the world championships.
The first title fights took place in Helsinki in 1983, when Rono ended his career due to mental problems and physical exhaustion.
A comeback in the marathon in 1986 was unsuccessful.
As a long-distance runner, Henry Rono set an incredible series of world records in 1978.
© Sven Simon/imago
The World Athletics Federation honors Henry Rono with a special prize in 2008
The World Athletics Federation IAAF awarded the exceptional athlete a special prize in 2008 when honoring the World Athletes, as he became a role model for others by returning to normal life.
He battled alcohol addiction for years and became homeless.
“The morning of my last world record, I woke up drunk,” Henry Rono told Sportinformationdienst
(SID)
in 2008 .
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Long-distance runner Henry Rono spoke about his personal “hell” in 2008
He said in 2008 that he no longer knew how many times he was arrested for drunk driving, how many rehabs he stopped, or where in the world he lived in homeless shelters.
“When I was drunk, I lost bank account numbers,” he confessed.
The money was out of his reach until the end.
“I went from a runner to a drunk and now I’m a runner again,” he told
SID
in 2008 .
“I had a lot of lousy jobs during my bad times - and sometimes I didn't get any at all.
I went through hell.
After that, it either goes up again or you're dead.” Rono made the jump back then, and shortly after his 72nd birthday he died in a hospital in his home country of Kenya.
Germany also mourned the loss of a sports legend this year.
Franz Beckenbauer died at the beginning of January 2024 at the age of 78.
(msb/dpa)