AK Nyanza South chairman, Peter Angwenyi, NOCK treasurer, Charles Mose (2nd L), former runners Charles Asati and Thomas Osano, when they visited Olympic gold medalist Hezekiah Nyamao at his home/HANDOUT Athletics Kenya joined the sporting fraternity in mourning the passing of legendary sprinter Hezekiah Nyamau, who passed away on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Aged 87, Nyamau was among the trailblazers of Kenyan sprinting, a pioneer who carried the nation’s flag high when few believed that Kenya’s glory could stretch beyond distance running.
At the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Nyamau was part of the formidable Kenyan quartet that clinched silver in the men’s 4x400m relay alongside Daniel Rudisha, Naftali Bon, and Charles Asati.
He also reached the semifinals of the individual 400m, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after clocking 46.37 seconds for sixth place in his heat.
His crowning moment came four years later at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, where he joined forces with Asati, Robert Ouko and Julius Sang to capture Kenya’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 4x400m relay, stopping the clock at 2:59.83.
Beyond the Olympics, Nyamau’s brilliance shone at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he helped Kenya strike gold in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:03.63. That same year, he and teammates Naftali Bon, Thomas Saisi and Robert Ouko set a world record in the 4x880 yards relay, clocking an impressive 7:11.6.
Outside the track, Nyamau served his nation with honour and dedication in the Kenya Defence Forces, a career he embarked on in 1963 and faithfully served until his retirement in 1997. The nation has truly lost a giant of the track, a man whose determination, humility, and excellence helped shape Kenya’s sprinting legacy and inspired generations to come.
“AK extends its deepest condolences to Nyamau’s family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life.
"His courage, discipline and devotion to country and sports will forever remain an inspiration.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to run strong in the hearts of those he inspired, AK said in a statement
Speaking to
the Star on Tuesday after receiving the information of the death of his teammate and
close friend, Charles Asati said he was shocked by the news.
“I’m devastated. I feel like an orphan. We were very close and always checked on each other,” said Asati from his home in Kitutu Masaba, Nyamira.
Asati, the AK Nyanza South region vice chairman, asked the government to recognise and
honour former athletes while they are still alive.
Nyamao's daughter Pamela, who confirmed the death, was distraught and said, “He was a loving father. We are broken as a family.”
She said Nyamao passed on at 7 am. Pamela appealed to Kenyans to support the family to give the Olympian a befitting send-off.
Nyamao was diagnosed
with stage three gall bladder cancer and has been in and out of various medical
facilities in Kisii and Nakuku.
AK Nyanza South chairman Peter Angwenyi said, “As Nyanza South, we are saddened by
the death of our legend. We recently visited him at home after he was
discharged and wished him well in his recovery journey.”
“Nyamao was
a key figure during our national and regional events, inspiring upcoming
athletes,” remarked Angwenyi.
Others who sent their condolences are the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) President Shadrack Maluki, first vice President Barnaba Korir and assistant treasurer Charles Mose.
