By Robert Nyasato
He stands tall in his robust athletic figure despite his age.
Nyandika Maiyoro, 77, the once great athlete who brought fame and glory to pre-colonial Kenya, says he is proud to have excelled even when the country was under oppression.
In an interview with The Standard recently, he said being among pioneer athletes stirs his heart with patriotism.
Mr Nyandika Maiyoro during his hey day as Kenya’s top athlete. |
He went down in the annals of Kenya’s athletics history in 1954 when Kenya entered international competition in the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. He emerged fourth in the 5,000 metres race.
Glorious past
Today, Maiyoro remembers his hey day with nostalgia.
Though not a rich man despite his glorious past, Maiyoro says he has no regrets.
Speaking at his Isoge Settlement Scheme farm in Borabu District, he says: "During our days, we did not run for money, it was for fame and country we were only given trophies and shields after winning, unlike these days when athletes get millions of shillings."
The only prize given to him for his achievement is the land he currently lives, donated to him by the first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta at a function at State House, Mombasa, soon after independence.
He farms and keeps cattle on the 35-acre piece of land.
Born in 1931 at Kiogoro village in Nyaribari Chache, Maiyoro attended Nyakegogi Primary School but dropped out in Standard Five to pursue athletics.
"It was a tough decision to make—choosing between education and athletics. But I found it extremely difficult to concentrate on both I had to forgo one and that is why I sacrificed my education to quench my thirst in athletics," he says.
Maiyoro’s distinguished athletic career spanning more than two decades kicked off at a tender age of 14 sixty two years ago when he won the inter-schools hampionships in Kisii.
Good start
The veteran athlete participated in 1,500m and 5,000m races, but later settled for the latter on advice by his coach and mentor, the then paramount chief Musa Nyandusi, father of former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae.
Maiyoro at his home during the interview. [PHOTOS: ROBERT NYASATO FILE/STANDARD] |
He won a bronze medal in 5,000m at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Two years later in 1958, he took the sixth position in the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.
Other Kenyans who took part in the games included Seraphino Antao, Kiptanui Mkenta, Paul Boit and Joseph Lerisai.
In 1960, during the Olympic Games in Rome, he took the sixth position. Maiyoro’s most memorable race was the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, when he won a bronze medal in 5,000 metres.
"It was the toughest race I ever participated. Even though I came third, I was satisfied that I had given my best," he remembers with nostalgia.
After an illustrious athletic career, the curtain had to fall—it was time for Maiyoro to get off the stage and hang-up his running spikes. He did so after the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. During the championships, he emerged third.
Active in retirement
He credits his coach, Nyandusi and a colonial sports officer, Mr Evans Archibald Archie, for his success; he says the two were strict sports administrators who helped him nurture his talent.
He recalls that Nyandusi would threaten him with expulsion from the camp, while Archie encouraged him to work harder during training.
In retirement, Maiyoro still keeps his body in shape through regular exercise. His morning starts at 6am. He jogs around his farm. He is through by 7am. He then proceeds to the farm where he works for the part of the morning, and spends the rest of the day herding cattle.
"It is important that I jog every morning in order to keep fit. Running is also in my blood and that makes it even easier for me to jog," he said.
Maiyoro is married to two wives—Mogute and Pasticha, and they have 14 children. He is however, not happy that none of his children has taken up after him. One of his sons, Samuel Obare who was keen on athletics, died in his teens.
At 77, Maiyoro attributes his good health to regular exercise and good diet.
However, his career in athletics was not incident-free. He remembers he nearly starved to death in Helsinki, Finland, in 1959 where he was invited for friendly championships.
"Since I did not know English well, I kept ordering chicken for breakfast, lunch and supper for two days until I confided in a member of our delegation," he says smiling.
He remembers the 1954, 5,000m Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada. He had gone to answer to a call of nature only to come back and find other participants were about to start.
Lightning speed
"I quickly removed my track suit and in lightning speed took to the field. At the end, I did not win but I did well," he recalls.
But Maiyoro complains that the Government has not done enough for sporting heroes.
He says the 1968 10,000m Olympic gold medallist Naftali Temu died a neglected man. However, he hails the Government for waiving Temu’s hospital bill. Maiyoro appeals to young athletes to take sports as a career because it is more lucrative than before.
He supports the initiative to launch the inaugural Naftali Temu Memorial race in honour of Temu—the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal.
"This is the only way we can appreciate great athletes," he says.