Philip Boit
Encyclopedia
Philip Kimely Boit is a cross-county skier
and the first Kenya
n to participate in the Winter Olympics. His first name is sometimes spelled as "Phillip".
Philip Boit and his compatriot Henry Bitok were trained in Finland
in order to become competitive skiers. Both were former middle distance runners with no previous skiing experience. Their project was sponsored by sportswear giant Nike
. Their winter training began in February 1996. Kenya had only one slot for the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, which was taken by Philip Boit, while Henry Bitok finished his skiing career soon. Boit's participation in the games gained worldwide media coverage. He finished 92nd and last in the 10-kilometer classic race. The awards for the race were delayed while the winner Bjørn Dæhlie
waited for Boit to reach the finish line in order to hug him. The experience was so moving for Boit that he named one of his first son Dæhlie Boit.
Later, Boit participated the 1999 Nordic skiing World Championships in Ramsau
, Austria
, and finished again last in the 10km classic event. After the event Nike dropped its sponsorship, hence he had to settle for "dry training" in Kenya for over two years.
In the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City Boit finished 64th in sprint race, leaving three competitors behind him. After the Salt Lake City Olympics Boit left competitive skiing again, but came back to participate in the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
where he finished 92nd in the 15km Classical, ahead of 5 fellow competitors. Boit said in a 2006 interview that he was planning to retire after 2010 Winter Olympics
to be held in Vancouver
.
In 2007, he competed in World Ski Championships held in Sapporo, Japan, the same country where he started his Olympic career.
Boit planned to retire after the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, he didn't meet the requirements needed to start in Olympic Games. He missed the limit by 2 FIS points, therefore he didn't compete in Olympic Games. His attempts to qualify for the Olympics were hampered by illness. After missing the Olympics, Boit decided to continue his career by a year and retire after the 2011 World Championships to be held in Oslo
, Norway
After graduating from Samwayi Secondary School, he was recruited to General Service Unit
in 1992, where was able to enhance his athletics career. As an athlete, he was a bit behind top Kenyan runners. His 800 metres record is 1:46.06.
Philip's uncle Mike Boit
won the bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
and the first 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 to participate in the Winter Olympics. His first name is sometimes spelled as "Phillip".
Philip Boit and his compatriot Henry Bitok were trained in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in order to become competitive skiers. Both were former middle distance runners with no previous skiing experience. Their project was sponsored by sportswear giant Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
. Their winter training began in February 1996. Kenya had only one slot for the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, which was taken by Philip Boit, while Henry Bitok finished his skiing career soon. Boit's participation in the games gained worldwide media coverage. He finished 92nd and last in the 10-kilometer classic race. The awards for the race were delayed while the winner Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. With 8 olympic gold medals, Dæhlie is the most winning winter olympic champion of all time. With nine gold medals in the Nord World Ski Championships he is in addition the most winning World Champion skier...
waited for Boit to reach the finish line in order to hug him. The experience was so moving for Boit that he named one of his first son Dæhlie Boit.
Later, Boit participated the 1999 Nordic skiing World Championships in Ramsau
Ramsau
Ramsau is the name of several municipalities and towns in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as the traditional German name of the municipality of Ramzová in the Czech Republic.Municipalities named Ramsau include:*Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Germany...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and finished again last in the 10km classic event. After the event Nike dropped its sponsorship, hence he had to settle for "dry training" in Kenya for over two years.
In the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City Boit finished 64th in sprint race, leaving three competitors behind him. After the Salt Lake City Olympics Boit left competitive skiing again, but came back to participate in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
where he finished 92nd in the 15km Classical, ahead of 5 fellow competitors. Boit said in a 2006 interview that he was planning to retire after 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
to be held in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
In 2007, he competed in World Ski Championships held in Sapporo, Japan, the same country where he started his Olympic career.
Boit planned to retire after the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, he didn't meet the requirements needed to start in Olympic Games. He missed the limit by 2 FIS points, therefore he didn't compete in Olympic Games. His attempts to qualify for the Olympics were hampered by illness. After missing the Olympics, Boit decided to continue his career by a year and retire after the 2011 World Championships to be held in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
After graduating from Samwayi Secondary School, he was recruited to General Service Unit
General Service Unit
The General Service Unit is a paramilitary wing of the Kenyan Military and Kenyan Police, consisting of highly trained police officers and special forces soldiers, transported by 7 dedicated Cessnas and...
in 1992, where was able to enhance his athletics career. As an athlete, he was a bit behind top Kenyan runners. His 800 metres record is 1:46.06.
Philip's uncle Mike Boit
Mike Boit
Mike Boit Mike Boit Mike Boit (Michael Kipsubut Boit; (born 1 June 1949) is a Kenyan former middle distance athlete whose career spanned fifteen years. He is presently a professor at Kenyatta University in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science....
won the bronze medal in the 800 meters 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....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
See also
- Lamine Guèye (skier)Lamine Guèye (skier)Lamine Guèye is a Senegalese skier, and the current president of the Senegalese Ski Federation, which he founded in 1979.Guèye represented Senegal at the 1984, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics...
- Eddie 'the Eagle' EdwardsEddie 'the Eagle' EdwardsMichael Edwards , better known as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, is a British skier who was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping...
- Eric MoussambaniEric MoussambaniEric Moussambani Malonga is a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea. Nicknamed "Eric the Eel" by the media after the name first appeared in an article by Craig Lord in The Times newspaper in London, Moussambani won brief international fame at the 2000 Summer Olympics when he swam his heat of the...
- Paula Barila BolopaPaula Barila BolopaPaula Barila Bolopa, born in 1981 or 1982, is a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea. She was one of two Equatorial Guinean swimmers to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the other being Eric Moussambani....