Wilson Kiprugut, Kenya’s first Olympic medallist, has been hailed as a pioneer following his death at the age of 84.
Kiprugut won a bronze medal in the 800m at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and followed that up with a silver over the same distance in Mexico City four years later.
“It is a sad day for our sport. He was one of our greatest runners,” double Olympic and world 800m champion David Rudisha told BBC Sport Africa.
“Being the first Kenyan to win a medal in Olympic Games, and the race being 800m, is really a great inspiration.
“You can see the 800m has been a race for the Kenyans ever since. We have been performing very well, but I can say it’s because of people like Wilson Kiprugut.
“He made our country proud.”
Athletics Kenya said Kiprugut, who died in Kericho county on Wednesday after a long illness, was one of the country’s “pioneering athletes”.
“We will surely miss the presence of a truly loveable and kind person who selflessly made the country proud on the global stage,” a statement from Athletics Kenya added.
“We Kenyans have lost a very important person who did a lot for athletics,” two-time Olympic gold medallist Kipchoge Keino, 82, told BBC Sport Africa.
“We trained and competed together and travelled to many countries in the world, and came home with good results.”
Meanwhile, Kenya’s first female Olympian, Tecla Sang, competed at the 1968 Games alongside Kiprugut and described him as a “humble and hard-working role model”. (BBC)