Nyantika Maiyoro MBE (1931 – 24 February 2019) was a Kenyan long-distance runner.[1]

Biography

Maiyoro attended Nyakegogi Primary School but dropped out after five years to concentrate on his athletics career. He was coached by the paramount chief Musa Nyandusi.[2] He won the 3000 m race at the 1953 Indian Ocean Games in Madagascar, despite having started the race late and joined it when other runners had run more than 100 metres.[3]

He then competed at the 1954 Commonwealth Games, the first major international championships that Kenya participated in. He was fourth in the three miles race.[4] At the 1956 Summer Olympics he finished 7th in the 5000 m race. He competed at the 1958 Commonwealth games, but did not perform very well.[3] Two years later, at the 1960 Summer Olympics he was 6th in the 5000 m race.[5] His time of 13:52.8 minutes was a new African record.[3] He retired from running in 1964.[6]

After retirement, Maiyoro worked as a Nyamira District Sports Officer and later a Gusii Stadium manager. Later, he retired to his farm,[7] located in the Borabu District, which was donated to him by the then-president Jomo Kenyatta.[8] After the 1954 Commonwealth Games he was also given a house (at Gusii Stadium) by Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi. After he retired from his job as a stadium manager, the house was seized by the Gusii municipal council, who claimed that the house was allocated to him only as a housing benefit while he was working for the council as a stadium manager.[6] However, after the issue was highlighted by the Kenyan media, the Prime minister Raila Odinga ordered the house to be returned to Maiyoro.[9]

He had two wives (Mogute and Pasticha) and 14 children.[2] Maiyoro, who ran for Kenya under colonial times, was awarded a MBE honour.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Legendary athlete Nyantika Mayoro dies at 88
  2. 1 2 The Standard, October 21, 2008: Veteran athlete continues to scout for sporting talent Archived 2008-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 John Bale, Joe Sang: Kenyan Running
  4. ↑ EastAfrican, August 10, 2008: Sweaty secrets of Kenya’s Running factory
  5. ↑ Sports reference.com Nyandika Maiyoro
  6. 1 2 The Standard, June 14, 2009: Return my house - Maiyoro
  7. ↑ The Standard, October 21, 2008: Veteran athlete continues to scout for sporting talent Archived 2008-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ The Standard, June 14, 2009: Legend with rich history
  9. ↑ The Standard, July 15, 2009: Maiyoro gets justice: Municipal Council to return house
  10. ↑ Shoe4Africa Ambassadors
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