How alcohol almost killed Olympic champion, Wilfred Bungei

As Samuel Wanjiru, Kenya’s first Olympic marathon gold medalist, lay dying on a cement slab in his home on May 15, 2011, fellow Olympian and track hero Wilfred Bungei, one of the world’s fastest 800-metre runners, was not running for gold, but death: Suicide.

In a macabre twist, alcohol featured prominently in Samuel Wanjiru’s life... and death, as it did in Bungei’s life... and near death, The Nairobian can exclusively reveal.

As an athlete, Bungei’s time and focus was on training and competitions 365 days in a year. His woes started with a tot or two after retirement.

“Retiring from athletics came with different challenges. I now needed something to fill the void and the plenty of time I had on my hands,” he says, “Slowly, I started drinking, initially for fun, then for comfort and before I knew it, I was a full-blown alcoholic who found nothing worth living for despite all the money I had.’’

His drinking problem became so serious that he was hospitalised twice.

Bungei says: “I would wake up every day feeling hopeless. I believe that’s how many addicts end up committing suicide.

I was lucky my turning point came after 20 months, before I could blow all my savings. I was in denial and couldn’t seek professional help. I eventually did and spent eight months at a rehabilitation centre in Nairobi. Those were probably the longest eight months of my life.’’

Bungei, who is currently a member of Alcoholic Anonymous, has been sober for over two years, despite running a bar at his Tortoise Resort, which he describes as a revived dream that almost went down the drain before it was realised.

Life like tortoise

Bungei now compares his life to that of a tortoise.

“It took me 10 years to actualise my hospitality industry dream. It also took me 10 years to win an Olympic medal, that’s why I compare my life to a tortoise’s.’’

With his running days behind him after his 2008 Olympics gold, his morning runs have been replaced by early office hours. He now dons formal office wear instead of his previous tracksuits. Bungei is the owner and manager of Tortoise Resort in Kapsabet town, Nandi County.

“I am a hands-on person,” says the Kabirirsang-born athlete, “not because I have trust issues, but because the hospitality industry is very sensitive. I have made it a habit to wake up at 5am daily because, just like running, if you make mistakes in this industry, then you must be ready to walk the journey all over again.’’

They say once bitten, twice shy. And Bungei admits his perfectionism approach to his business is due to the fact that he knows too well how hard it is to get up from a fall. His journey to business success has been a bumpy one. His story is no different from that of most athletes who find it hard to forge a way forward after retiring from the sport.

The rate at which his business is growing, however, is not at the pace of tortoise. Plans are already underway to launch another branch. Bungei is currently involved in motivational speaking, hoping that his triumph over alcoholism will inspire a generation and be a lesson to other athletes.

He rules out a return to sports as a manager or coach, saying that, ‘’I would love to give back to the sport I once loved, but there is too much pressure that comes with coaching or managing athletes. I will probably consider vying for office. That is however not in my short term goals.’’

He confesses that the only thing he misses in athletics is his signature eyewear that he doesn’t sport as much these days. He still owns about four pairs of designer eyewear and his 2008 Olympics glasses were recently auctioned by ‘The Feed the Children’ charity organisation.

12 years in Italy

Bungei’s taste for fine things was sharpened by his stay abroad. ‘’I lived in Italy for 12 years. If there’s a thing I learnt from the Italians, it’s an eye for fine things. Italians are generally very hardworking people who always have their sleeves rolled up. Gucci and Lamborghinis are just some of the things I admire. I also have great admiration for the Texan culture, hence my love for cowboy boots and hats. I am always shopping for these items online,” says Bungei.

He hopes to set up a ranch and import some horses. He has kept a strong Italian culture at the Tortoise Resort, where Italian delicacies dominate the menu. He jokes that he can show his wife one or two tricks in the kitchen.