Douglas Wakiihuri, Kenya’s first gold medalist, has long been a trailblazer in athletics, and in an interview with Radio Generation on Wednesday, he offered an intimate look at the journey that took him from local dreams in Kenya to world championship glory.
Reflecting on the challenges of adapting to a new culture while pursuing excellence, Wakiihuri said, “I was struggling in between being a Kenyan and accepting the Japanese culture in a way. You cannot be a Japanese, but you can at least accept the culture… I can remove 50 that I don’t need from the Kenyan side, and I add 50 from the Japanese side… once I make it 100, that’s what is going to make me win a medal.”
Wakiihuri stressed that talent alone was not enough to reach the top. “So you don’t have to be talented, but you have to be dedicated… the exercise part of the physical is more practical… the number of times you spend your time on the ground practicing is how you develop,” he explained.
From training in New Zealand and Sweden to experimenting with climate adaptation for competitions in Rome, he demonstrated a meticulous approach to preparation, often going beyond conventional methods.
“You have to become abnormal in life… life has only 24 hours. Whatever you want to do has to be 24 hours. You remove things you don’t need to do, add things you must do,” he said, describing the discipline that shaped his record-breaking performances.
Wakiihuri’s dedication translated into historic achievements. He became the first Kenyan to win the World Championships marathon gold in 1987 with a time of 2:11:48, followed by Olympic silver in Seoul 1988 (2:10:47), London Marathon victory in 1989 (2:09:03), Commonwealth Games gold in 1990 (2:10:27), New York City Marathon in 1990 (2:12:39), and the World Marathon Cup in 1995 (2:12:01).
“It is not only big for myself; it is big that I’m carrying the whole nation with me to represent them… all that I am today is because of this one person who saw me, believed in me, gave me an opportunity,” he reflected.
Beyond his medals, Wakiihuri has left a lasting legacy as a mentor, coaching elite runners and shaping Kenya’s running future.
His contributions have been recognized internationally, with Japan awarding him the Order of the Rising Sun (Silver) for his role in advancing marathon running.
For Wakiihuri, running is more than sport—it is a blend of passion, strategy, and service to the nation. “I’ve sacrificed my time, my life, and dedicated my life to do what I love myself, but then it carries all of us and makes us happy, makes us inspired, also brings in new blood into the sport,” he said, encapsulating a life that continues to inspire Kenya and the world.
Wakiihuri’s story stands as a testament to dedication, strategy, and the power of vision, inspiring generations of Kenyan athletes to pursue excellence at home and on the world stage.
