Charles Gitonga (born 5 October 1971) is a retired athlete from

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

who specialized in the 400 metres. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the

1994 Commonwealth Games The 1994 Commonwealth Games (French: ''XVéme Jeux du Commonwealth'') were held in Victoria, British Columbia, from 18 to 28 August 1994. Ten types of sports were featured at the Victoria Games: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

. His personal best time was 44.20 seconds, achieved in June 1996 in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper h ...

. The result gives him a 19th place on the world all-time performers list, and is only 0.02 seconds behind the Kenyan record set by

Samson Kitur Samson Kitur (February 25, 1966 — April 25, 2003) was a Kenyan athlete, and an Olympic medalist in 1992. Biography Unlike most of his compatriots, who run in distances 800 metres and up, Kitur specialised in the 400 metres. He won t ...

four years earlier.

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* * * 1971 births Living people Kenyan male sprinters Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1994 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Kenya Olympic athletes for Kenya Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics People from Nyeri County Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games {{Kenya-athletics-bio-stub