Wilson Arap Chuma Kiprugut (1938 – 1 November 2022) was a Kenyan sprinter and

middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. The 1 ...

. He competed at the 1964 Tokyo and

1968 Mexico Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...

and won two medals in the

800 metres The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

event; in 1964 he also ran

400 metres The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics (sport), athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor runn ...

, but failed to reach the final.Wilson Kiprugut
sports-reference.com He was the first person from Kenya ever to win an Olympic medal.Tanui, Nikko (27 November 2013)
Wilson Kiprugut Chumo: Champion who brought first medal to Kenyan soil
''Kenya Standard''. Retrieved on 2015-07-12. At the

1962 Commonwealth Games The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Australia, from 22 November to 1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth. The ...

, Kiprugut was part of the Kenyan 4 × 440 yards relay team which finished fifth.The Standard, 1 February 2003
Antao put Kenya on world map
/ref> At the

1966 Commonwealth Games The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 4 to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions. They were followed by the 1966 Commonwealth Par ...

, he won the 880 yards silver medal. He won two gold medals (in the 400 and 800 metres) at the inaugural All-Africa Games in 1965. In 2010, he won the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year award. Kiprugut grew up in

Kericho Kericho is the biggest town in Kericho County located in the highlands west of the Kenyan Rift Valley. Standing on the edge of the Mau Forest, Kericho has a warm and temperate climate making it an ideal location for agriculture and in particul ...

and began running as a child while at Kaptebeswet Primary School and Sitotwet Intermediate School. His talent was first identified when he ran at the

East and Central African Championships The East and Central African Championships was an annual international athletics competition between nations in East and Central Africa. The event was established as the East African Championships in 1955, building upon of international athletics ...

– an event where he won no less than three 880-yard titles. Kiprugut died on 1 November 2022, at the age of 84.

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* 1938 births 2022 deaths People from Kericho County Kenyan male middle-distance runners Olympic athletes of Kenya Olympic silver medalists for Kenya Olympic bronze medalists for Kenya Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Kenya Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics Athletes (track and field) at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) African Games gold medalists for Kenya African Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Athletes (track and field) at the 1965 All-Africa Games {{Kenya-Olympic-medalist-stub