Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has eulogized the legendary athlete Nyantika Mayoro as a selfless and unassuming patriot who did much to promote athletics in Kenya.
“We have lost a pioneer athlete who put the country on the global sports map through his remarkable performance in Olympics in 1956 and in the years that followed. ” Reads part of a statement posted on Raila’s social media pages.
I join fellow Kenyans in mourning Mr Nyantika Mayoro who passed on today. We have lost a pioneer athlete who put the country on the global sports map through his remarkable performance in Olympics in 1956 and in the years that followed.— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) February 25, 2019
Mayoro died on Sunday aged 88 at the Christiamariane hospital in Kisii County.
Nyantika competed for Kenya at the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia where he finished seventh in 5,000m. Four years later he also represented Kenya at the Olympic Games held in Rome, Italy where he settled for the sixth spot.
Similarly, Nyantika took part in back to back Commonwealth Games of 1954 and 1958.
He retired from athletics in 1964 where he also served in management first a Sports Officer in Nyamira County and later as a manager of Gusii stadium.