Athletics Kenya honours legacy of fallen Olympian
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 13.10.25. | 08:12
His crowning moment came four years later at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games
Athletics Kenya (AK) has joined the wider sporting community in mourning the passing of legendary sprinter Hezekiah Nyamau, who died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Aged 87, Nyamau was one of the pioneers of Kenyan sprinting, a trailblazer who proved that Kenya’s athletic excellence could stretch beyond long-distance running.
At the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Nyamau was part of the formidable Kenyan quartet that won silver in the men’s 4x400m relay alongside Daniel Rudisha, Naftali Bon, and Charles Asati.
He also reached the semifinals of the individual 400m, narrowly missing out on the final after clocking 46.37 seconds for sixth place in his heat.
His crowning moment came four years later at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, where he teamed up with Asati, Robert Ouko, and Julius Sang to deliver Kenya’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s 4x400m relay, crossing the line in 2:59.83.
Nyamau’s brilliance was not confined to the Olympics.
At the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, he helped Kenya secure gold in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:03.63.
That same year, he and teammates Naftali Bon, Thomas Saisi, and Robert Ouko set a world record in the 4×880 yards relay, clocking an impressive 7:11.6.
Away from the track, Nyamau served his country with distinction in the Kenya Defence Forces, a career he began in 1963 and faithfully pursued until his retirement in 1997.
Kenya has lost a true icon—a man whose determination, humility, and excellence helped shape the nation’s sprinting legacy and inspired future generations of athletes.
In a statement, Athletics Kenya expressed its sorrow, saying, “AK extends its deepest condolences to Nyamau’s family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life. His courage, discipline, and devotion to country and sport will forever remain an inspiration.”
The federation added, “May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to run strong in the hearts of those he inspired.”
