Seraphino Antao
Encyclopedia
Seraphino Antao was retired runner from Kenya
. He won two events at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, making him the first Kenyan athlete to win a gold medal at an international level. He is of Asian origin (specifically Goan), from low altitude coastal city of Mombasa
and was a sprinter, making him atypical Kenyan athlete.
He competed at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff
, Wales
, but without much success. Two years later Antao competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome
, Italy
, where he reached 100 metres semi finals and 200 metres second round.
, Australia
marked the highest point of his career, when he won 100 and 220 yards gold medal. He was also member of the Kenyan 4 x 440 yards relay team which finished fifth. Other members of the relay team were Wilson Kiprugut
, Kimaru Songok
and Peter Francis. The same year he won two gold medals (100 and 220 yard) at the British AAA Championships, which he attended three times. He also won several gold medals at the East and Central African Championships.
Kenya had gained independence in December 1963 and Antao became the first Kenyan Olympic flagbearer at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, Japan
, but was ill and did not perform as well as expected at the track.The Standard, February 1, 2003: Winning Two Gold in Perth Most Memorable He reached 200 metres
second round but was eliminated at the heats of 100 metres
After the Olympics, he retired from the sport and moved to London
, England
. In 2003 he made a rare visit to Kenya attending the 50th anniversary of Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (today Athletics Kenya
). Seraphino Antao passed away on September 6, 2011 following a battle with cancer.
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...
. He won two events at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, making him the first Kenyan athlete to win a gold medal at an international level. He is of Asian origin (specifically Goan), from low altitude coastal city of Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
and was a sprinter, making him atypical Kenyan athlete.
Early career
Seraphino Antao grew up in Ganjoni and Makupa estates of Mombasa. He is a son of Diogo Manuel and Anna Maria and has six siblings. While at Goan High School he took several sports but inclined towards short distance running. In 1957 he broke the Kenyan 100 and 220 yards records.He competed at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, but without much success. Two years later Antao competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
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...
, where he reached 100 metres semi finals and 200 metres second round.
Commonwealth success and later career
1962 Commonwealth Games in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
marked the highest point of his career, when he won 100 and 220 yards gold medal. He was also member of the Kenyan 4 x 440 yards relay team which finished fifth. Other members of the relay team were Wilson Kiprugut
Wilson Kiprugut
Wilson Kiprugut Chuma is a Kenyan former athlete who competed mainly in the 800 metres.He competed at the 1962 Commonwealth Games and was part of the Kenyan 4 x 440 yards relay team which finished fifth. Other members of the relay team were Kimaru Songok, Peter Francis and Seraphino Antao...
, Kimaru Songok
Kimaru Songok
Kimaru Songok is a former Kenyan runner who specialised in 400 metres hurdles.He was among the first Kenyan medalist internationally, when he won silver in 440 Yards hurdles at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. Songok was also part of the Kenyan 4 x 440 yards relay team which finished fifth. Other...
and Peter Francis. The same year he won two gold medals (100 and 220 yard) at the British AAA Championships, which he attended three times. He also won several gold medals at the East and Central African Championships.
Kenya had gained independence in December 1963 and Antao became the first Kenyan Olympic flagbearer at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, but was ill and did not perform as well as expected at the track.The Standard, February 1, 2003: Winning Two Gold in Perth Most Memorable He reached 200 metres
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres
The men's 200 metres was the second-shortest of the men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 16 October and 17 October 1964. 63 athletes from 48 nations entered, with 6 not starting in the first round...
second round but was eliminated at the heats of 100 metres
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
The men's 100 metres was the shortest of the men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo, Japan. It was held on 14 October and 15 October 1964. 76 athletes from 49 nations entered, with 3 not starting in the first round...
After the Olympics, he retired from the sport and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 2003 he made a rare visit to Kenya attending the 50th anniversary of Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (today Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Kenya. It is a member of the IAAF and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of...
). Seraphino Antao passed away on September 6, 2011 following a battle with cancer.