Peter Rono
Encyclopedia
Peter Kipchumba Rono (born 31 July 1967 in Kamobo village, near Kapsabet
) is a former Kenya
n athlete, who won the 1,500 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
He won the gold medal at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Nairobi, Kenya
, in 1985 and in 1986 he was the silver medallist in the 1500m at the World Junior Championships
in Athens
, Greece
. In 1987, he was a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the World Championships
in Rome
, Italy
.
He attended St. Patrick's High School
, Iten
where he was trained by Brother Colm O'Connell, an Irish Patrician missionary and headmaster of the school at that time.
At the 1988 Olympic Games, Rono managed to closely defeat the main favourites, Peter Elliott
and Steve Cram
of Great Britain
, thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion at 1500 m (21 years and 62 days).
Rono never won a major race again. He earned his bachelor's degree
and master's degree
from Mount Saint Mary's University
in Maryland
, while competing, and later coaching, for the institution.
In November 2006, Rono was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador
at Large by the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM, that works to promote the use of micro-algae Spirulina
(Spirulina Platensis) to counter malnutrition and its severe negative impacts, especially in the developing and Least Developed Countries (LDC).
Peter Rono currently lives in New Jersey
where he is employed by the sales and marketing department of the shoe manufacturer New Balance
. He is married to Mary Kirui, a runner who won 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 1987 All-Africa Games
held in Nairobi
, Kenya. Their son Patrick Rono is a promising runner for Lyndhurst High School
. Their daughter Irene is also runner.
Kapsabet
Kapsabet is a town in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi Central District. Kapsabet hosts a municipal council and divisional headquarters of Kapsabet administrative division...
) is a former Kenya
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, who won the 1,500 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
He won the gold medal at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, in 1985 and in 1986 he was the silver medallist in the 1500m at the World Junior Championships
1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 1st World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 1986 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Athens, Greece.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In 1987, he was a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
He attended St. Patrick's High School
St. Patrick's High School
St. Patrick High School, St. Patrick's High School and other variants may refer to:In Canada:*St. Patrick's High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia*St. Patrick's High School in Ottawa, Ontario...
, Iten
Iten
Iten is a town in Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It is located along the road between Eldoret and Kabarnet. Elgeyo escarpment and Kerio River are located east of Iten. The town has a population of 4000 ....
where he was trained by Brother Colm O'Connell, an Irish Patrician missionary and headmaster of the school at that time.
At the 1988 Olympic Games, Rono managed to closely defeat the main favourites, Peter Elliott
Peter Elliott (athlete)
Peter Elliott is a former middle-distance runner from the United Kingdom. During his career, he won the gold medal in the 1500 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, the silver medal in the 1500 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games, and the silver medal in the 800 metres at the 1987 World...
and Steve Cram
Steve Cram
Stephen "Steve" Cram MBE is a British retired athlete. Along with fellow Britons Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, he was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", Cram set world records in the 1500 metres, 2000 metres and the mile during a...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion at 1500 m (21 years and 62 days).
Rono never won a major race again. He earned his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, while competing, and later coaching, for the institution.
In November 2006, Rono was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
at Large by the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM, that works to promote the use of micro-algae Spirulina
Spirulina
Spirulina may refer to:* Spirulina , a health-food supplement* Spirulina , a cyanobacterium group* Ochthephila spirulina, species of gastropod in the Hygromiidae family...
(Spirulina Platensis) to counter malnutrition and its severe negative impacts, especially in the developing and Least Developed Countries (LDC).
Peter Rono currently lives in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
where he is employed by the sales and marketing department of the shoe manufacturer New Balance
New Balance
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. , best known as simply New Balance, is a footwear manufacturer based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company...
. He is married to Mary Kirui, a runner who won 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 1987 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 1987 All-Africa Games
The fourth All-Africa Games were held in August 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya.Four new events were added to the games these were the women's 3000 metres, 10000 metres, 400 metres hurdles and 5000 metres track walk. Additionally the pentathlon for women was replaced with the heptathlon. Also four nations...
held in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya. Their son Patrick Rono is a promising runner for Lyndhurst High School
Lyndhurst High School
Lyndhurst High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Lyndhurst, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lyndhurst School District....
. Their daughter Irene is also runner.
Achievements
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | World Junior Championships | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 1500 m 1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics The 1st World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 1986 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Athens, Greece.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com... |
3:45.62 |