Samuel Wanjiru

Samuel Kamau Wanjirū was a premier Kenyan long-distance runner.

He was known for his exceptional speed in endurance events. Wanjirū achieved historic success on the global stage. In 2008, he won the Olympic gold medal in the marathon. He completed the race in an Olympic record time of 2:06:32. This victory made him the first Kenyan to win Olympic gold in the marathon. He was also the youngest gold medalist in the marathon since 1932. His dominance earned him the AIMS World Athlete of the Year Award in 2008.

Wanjirū's racing style allowed him to dominate various distances. He was a specialist in both the half marathon and the full marathon. He broke the half marathon world record three separate times. In 2005, he set a world junior record for the 10,000m race. His time of 26:41.75 was nearly 23 seconds faster than the previous mark. He also recorded a very fast 5,000m time of 13:12.40 in Hiroshima, Japan.

Even his unofficial times were remarkable. He ran a 20km distance in 55:31, which was faster than the existing world record.

The athlete's career began with significant challenges in Kenya. He was born in Nyahururu, located in Laikipia County. He grew up in poverty with his brother, Simon Njoroge. Due to financial difficulties, Wanjirū left school at approximately age twelve. He began running at the age of eight. In 2002, he moved to Japan to attend Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School. He found success on the Japanese cross country circuit. He won the Fukuoka International Cross Country in 2003. He followed this with wins at the Chiba International Cross Country in 2004 and 2005.

After high school, Wanjirū entered the professional athletics circuit. He joined the Toyota Kyūshū athletics team in 2005. He was coached by Koichi Morishita, a 1992 Olympic silver medalist. Wanjirū's career was marked by several major international victories. He won the Fukuoka Marathon in 2007 with a course record of 2:06:39. In 2008, he won the Zayed International Half Marathon. He also earned a second-place finish at the 2008 London Marathon. These performances established him as a top contender in world marathon racing.

Wanjirū reached the peak of his career during the 2009 season. He won the London Marathon with a time of 2:05:10. This was both a personal record and a new course record. Later that year, he won the Chicago Marathon in 2:05:41. This was the fastest marathon ever recorded in the United States. His victories in London and Chicago earned him a $500,000 jackpot. He reached the top of the World Marathon Majors rankings for 2009. In 2010, he successfully defended his Chicago title despite facing a stomach virus.

Despite his athletic success, Wanjirū faced personal difficulties. He dealt with injuries, such as knee trouble during the 2010 London Marathon. His personal life also became complex and sometimes chaotic. In December 2010, he was arrested in Kenya on charges involving a domestic dispute and a firearm. He denied these accusations, claiming he was being framed. He was married to Triza Njeri and later to Mary Wacera. He had several children from these relationships. These personal struggles occurred alongside his continued professional achievements.

In May 2011, Wanjirū died following a fall from a balcony at his home in Nyahururu. The fall resulted in internal injuries, and he died at a nearby hospital. The circumstances of his death were subject to investigation. Police looked into a domestic dispute that occurred before the fall. An inquest was later held at the Milimani law court. During this inquest, his mother, Hannah Wanjiru, suggested he had been murdered. A pathologist also suggested he may have been struck during the incident. His death remains a complex and serious chapter in his life story.