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A delighted Samuel is pictured above crossing the line, arms
outstretched in celebration, to win gold in the men's Marathon at the
2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. It was a fabulous performance from the
young Kenyan, who recorded a new Olympic record time of 2.06.32 in what
were very testing conditions due to the extreme heat. What made
Wanjiru's performance all the more remarkable was the fact that this was
his first ever appearance at a major championship. He was the
first Kenyan to win the event. The following year he won both the
London (2:05.10) and Chicago (2:05.41) marathons. And again in 2010 the
Chicago race (2:06:23)
He died on May 15th. 2011 from a fall off a balcony at his home in
Nyahururu, a town in the Rift Valley. Wanjiru suffered internal
injuries from the fall and was confirmed dead by doctors at a nearby
hospital. He was just 24 years old.
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Men's Marathon. 2008 Olympic Games.
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| 1. Samuel Kamau WANJIRU |
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KEN |
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2: 06.32 OR |
| 2. Jaouad GHARIB |
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MOR |
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2: 07.16 |
| 3. Tsegay KEBEDE |
|
ETH |
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2: 10.00 |
| 4. Deriba MERGA |
|
ETH |
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2: 10.21 |
| 5. Martin LEL |
|
KEN |
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2: 10.24 |
| 6. Viktor ROTHLIN |
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SWI |
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2: 10.35 |
| 7. Gashaw ASFAW |
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ETH |
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2: 10.52 |
| 8. Yared ASMEROM |
|
ERI |
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2: 11.11 |
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Major races he won representing Kenya.
2007 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon UAE 1st Half marathon 58:53 = World Record
Fukuoka Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 1st Marathon 2:06:39
2008 Summer Olympics Beijing, China 1st Marathon 2:06:32 = Olympic Record
2009 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 1st Marathon 2:05:10
Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 1st Marathon 2:05:41
2010 Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 1st Marathon 2:06:23.
At the age of only 18, Wanjiru broke the half marathon world record on 11 September 2005
in the Rotterdam Half Marathon with a time of 59:16 minutes, officially beating Paul Tergat's
half-marathon record of 59:17 minutes. Wanjiru took back the half marathon world record,
which Haile Gebrselassie broke in early 2006, with 58:53 minutes on 9 February 2007
at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon[9] and improved it to 58:33 on 17 March 2007
in the City-Pier-City Loop in The Hague, Netherlands.
Wanjiru made his marathon debut at Fukuoka Marathon on 2 December 2007, winning
with a course record of 2:06:39.
Samuel Wanjiru was born in Nyahururu, Laikipia District and was brought up with his brother
Simon Njoroge in poverty by his mother Hannah Wanjiru, daughter of Samuel Kamau.
Wanjiru took his mother's given name as a surname, because she was a single mother.
He dropped out of school aged about 12, because they could not afford the school fees.
He had three wives (legal in Kenya), Mary Wacera, a fellow long-distance runner who bore
him a daughter(Ann) in 2010. Triza Njeri, a beautician with whom he
had daughter Anne Wanjiru and a son Simon Njoroge. And Judy Wambui Wairimu, who was pregnant
when he died and gave birth to a son after his death.