Amos Biwott
Encyclopedia
Amos Biwott is a former Kenya
n athlete, winner of the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1968 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Nandi, Kenya, Amos Biwott was the first of long line of Kenyan runners who had starred the 3000 m steeplechase ever since Biwott's surprising win at the Mexico City
Olympics
and pioneered the black Africa's dominance at the long distance running.
Biwott hadn’t run many steeplechase races before the Olympics, only three of them, and his technique was not the best, using a then comically rustic hurdling style. He was the first man to have the courage not to place one foot on the barrier and spring off, but cleared the whole obstacle in one gigantic effort and, in so doing, reduced the customary clearance time of 1.1 second
s by half. He was the only runner who made it across the finish line with completely dry feet in both the Olympic qualifying heat and the final, which he won by 0.6 seconds ahead of compatriot Benjamin Kogo
.
After this golden moment, Biwott's athletics career went slowly downward. He finished third at the 1970 Commonwealth Games
, was sixth at the 1972 Summer Olympics
and finished his career with an eighth place at the 1974 Commonwealth Games
.
After his athletics career, Biwott worked the Kenya Prisons Service until his ignominious departure in 1978 when he was prosecuted for theft. After that he was a watchman at the stadium.
He is married to Cherono Maiyo, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and was one of the first Kenyan females to participate at the olympics. They married in 1973 and have five children.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n athlete, winner of the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
.
Born in Nandi, Kenya, Amos Biwott was the first of long line of Kenyan runners who had starred the 3000 m steeplechase ever since Biwott's surprising win at the Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and pioneered the black Africa's dominance at the long distance running.
Biwott hadn’t run many steeplechase races before the Olympics, only three of them, and his technique was not the best, using a then comically rustic hurdling style. He was the first man to have the courage not to place one foot on the barrier and spring off, but cleared the whole obstacle in one gigantic effort and, in so doing, reduced the customary clearance time of 1.1 second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
s by half. He was the only runner who made it across the finish line with completely dry feet in both the Olympic qualifying heat and the final, which he won by 0.6 seconds ahead of compatriot Benjamin Kogo
Benjamin Kogo
Benjamin Kogo is retired athlete from Kenya who specialised in 3000 metre steeplechase running. He is silver medalist from 1968 Summer Olympics, in an event won by his compatriot Amos Biwott....
.
After this golden moment, Biwott's athletics career went slowly downward. He finished third at the 1970 Commonwealth Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
, was sixth at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
and finished his career with an eighth place at the 1974 Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
.
After his athletics career, Biwott worked the Kenya Prisons Service until his ignominious departure in 1978 when he was prosecuted for theft. After that he was a watchman at the stadium.
He is married to Cherono Maiyo, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and was one of the first Kenyan females to participate at the olympics. They married in 1973 and have five children.