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World mourns former Olympics 3000m steeplechase medalist Kogo
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 24.01.22. | 09:33
The Olympian died at the age of 77.
The world is mourning the passing on of Benjamin Kogo, an accomplished Kenyan athlete who claimed Olympic 3000m steeplechase silver for Kenya at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.
Kogo’s achievements sparked the start of Kenya’s great success in the steeplechase, as he became the first athlete to contest the event for his country at the Olympics when racing at the 1964 Games in Tokyo. There, he finished fifth in his heat in 8:51.0.
1/3 Cabinet Secretary @AMB_A_Mohammed is saddened by the passing of legendary athlete Benjamin Kogo who won silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1968 Olympic Games held in Mexico City.
— Ministry Of Sports, Culture & Heritage (@moscakenya) January 23, 2022
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images pic.twitter.com/k5hZNdvh2y
Four years later he progressed to not only make the final, but reach the podium. With a time of 8:51.56, Kogo secured silver behind his compatriot Amos Biwott and Kenyan athletes would go on to win 10 of the following 13 Olympic men’s finals in the discipline.
Kogo had led the field during the early stages of that tactical 1968 final and was joined by the USA’s George Young at the bell. Kogo was ahead off the final water jump but as he powered away, his lesser-known compatriot Biwott stormed past to take the title.
Two of Kenya's athletics legends - one a runner and the other a coach, both from the same era of long distance running history - pass away in Nairobi within hours of each other. John Velzian (1929-2022) was 93 and Benjamin Kogo (1944-2022) was 77. pic.twitter.com/Nea5ZafVGp
— Jagjit Singh☬ 🇮🇳 (@Jagjit1) January 21, 2022
As well as his Olympic silver medal, Kogo won gold at the inaugural African Games in 1965 and claimed bronze at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. His PB of 8:31.6 was set in Paris in 1967.
He retired in 1972 after a hip injury meant he was unable to qualify for that year’s Olympics.
World Athletics