Ben Jipcho
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Benjamin Wabura Jipcho |
Born | 1 March 1943 Mount Elgon District, Western Province, Kenya |
Died | 24 July 2020[1] Eldoret, Kenya | (aged 77)
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event | 1500-5000 m |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 3:33.16 (1974) 5000 m – 13:14.3 (1974) 3000 mS – 8:13.91 (1973) |
Medal record |
Benjamin Wabura Jipcho (1 March 1943 – 24 July 2020) was a track and field
Jipcho won the
Jipcho may be as well known for his role in Keino's victory over Jim Ryun in the high altitude 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City as for his own athletic accomplishments. Sacrificing his own chances for a medal to team tactics, he pulled Keino through a 56-second first 400 metres, before being passed by his teammate with 800 metres to go and drifting back into the pack. By that point, Keino had established a lead of 20 metres or more, which Ryun's famous finishing speed could not erase.[3] Jipcho later apologized to Ryun for acting as Keino's rabbit.
He was later quoted:
- "Running for money doesn't make you run fast. It makes you run first."[4]
His granddaughter
He won the silver medal in the
According to his daughter, he died of cancer in Fountain Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Ben Jipcho, the 'rabbit' who helped Keino beat Ryun, dies". AP NEWS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ben Jipcho". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-01-31.
- ^ Chan, Andy (July 27, 2010) Team Tactics at Championship Races. Pamakidscoach.wordpress.com
- ISBN 978-1-4729-0732-5.
- ^ The Standard, 4 August 2009: Jipcho’s granddaughter wipes tears
- ^ The Standard, 20 August 2009: Mt Elgon celebrates Masai’s triumph
External links
- Ben Jipcho at Olympedia
- Benjamin Jipcho at World Athletics
- Benjamin Wabura Jipcho at Olympics.com