In a messy and sad story a champion of the track of long time almost forgotten has finally spokenout but not given his fans good news.
Henry Rono famous for Kenyan tracks and field athletics is reportedly broke and stuck abroad and is asking for the Kenyan gorvenment to sponsor him with a plane ticket back to the country.
“Yes, I would like the government to help me get back home by getting me a ticket… I can’t afford living in the USA. I’m getting old… Also, being away from home for over 32 years is too long,” Rono stated from his US base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rono, who is also a recovering alcoholic, moved to the US 32 years ago after his career and took a coaching job in Albuquerque. His life however took a wrong turn and he is now working as a security guard at the Albuquerque airport.
There is an often-told story that, in September 1981, Rono got drunk the night before he was due to run a 5000m in Knarvik, near Oslo. The following day he ran for an hour in the morning to sweat out the alcohol and recover from the hangover and that night set a World record of 13:06.20.
The following July. Rono lost that particular World record to Britain’s David Moorcroft, in a race which he finished a distant fourth. By 1984, with Kenya returning the Olympic arena after boycotting the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, Rono’s drinking and rising weight sadly meant that he was a long way from being in the top echelon and was unable to compete on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei has said that his Association is ready to help the legend.