Naftali Temu

Naftali Temu was born on April 20, 2003 (error, 1945) in Sotik, Nyamira District. Joining the Kenya Army in 1963, his exceptional aerobic endurance was honed training at high altitude in the Great Rift Valley.

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, in the grueling altitude of the Mexican capital on October 13, Temu engaged Ethiopian champion Mamo Wolde in a thrilling sprint duel, crossing the finish line to claim the gold medal in the 10,000 meters—Kenya's first-ever Olympic gold medal. He also won a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters, initiating Kenya's global supremacy in middle and long-distance athletics.