Hezekiah Nyamau, one of the athletes who brought Kenya an Olympic gold medal with an impressive performance at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, has passed away due to gall bladder cancer.
The legendary runner had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Nakuru, where he sadly died around 2 a.m. He had been battling the illness for a long time, showing great resilience throughout his struggle.
Earlier, the Nation newspaper had requested an interview with him, but Nyamau had to decline due to his deteriorating health. During that time, he said:
“My children, as you can see, I don’t have the energy to talk. Just take my pictures and show the country where the athlete who brought honour to Kenya is lying.”
Throughout his professional career, Hezekiah Nyamau achieved remarkable success in the 4x400m relay.
At the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, he won a silver medal alongside teammates Daniel Rudisha, Naftali Bon, and Charles Asati.
He went on to claim another gold medal in the same event at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games.