Peter Rono

Peter Kipchumba Rono (born July 31, 1967) is a former Kenyan athlete, who won the 1,500 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Born in Kapsabet, Rono won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in 1984 in both the 1500 m and 5000 m. He also won the gold medal at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985, and in 1986 he was the silver medalist in the 1500 m at the World Junior Championships in Athens, Greece. In 1987, he was semi-finalist in the 1500 m at the World Championships in Rome, Italy.

He schooled at St Patricks High School, Iten where he was trained by Brother Colm O'Connell, an Irish Patrician missionary and headmaster of the school at that time.

In 1988 at the Olympic Games, Rono managed to beat closely the main favourites Peter Elliott and Steve Cram of Great Britain, thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion at 1500 m (21 years and 62 days).

Rono never won a major race again. He earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Mount Saint Mary's University in Maryland, while competing, and later coaching, for the institution.

In November 2006, Rono was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador at Large by the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM,that works to promote the use of micro-algae Spirulina (Spirulina Platensis) to counter malnutrition and its severe negative impacts especially in the developing and Least Developed Countries (LDC).

References

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External links

* [http://www.pomun.org Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM)]