Kenya has dominated the athletic world for many years. From Paul Tergat to Eliud Kipchoge, the country is a hotbed for Athletics.
However, despite being a force to reckon with in both the short and long-distance races, very few people are aware of the people who have made this possible.
TeamKenya.co.ke looks at two foreign coaches, who have shaped the careers of runners who went on to bring immense glory to the East African nation.
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Colm O’Connell
Brother Colm, as he is widely known in North Rift counties, is a darling to many people, not only runners.
The man who came to Kenya 47 years ago to teach Geography at the one-time hockey giants, St. Patricks High School, Iten, has done wonders in the country’s athletic industry.
The sense of pride Kenyans feel when they hear the national anthem being sung at international competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and the World Cross Country Championships, has on numerous occasions been sponsored by brother Colm.
He has coached numerous world record-breakers and Olympic gold medalists, including David Lekuta Rudisha, Mary Keitany, Isaac Songok, Lonah Kiplagat, Brimin Kipruto, Vivian Cheruiyot, Linet Masai and Janet Jepkosgei.
The above athletes have won numerous medals, particularly gold medals.
In a recent interview, Brother Colm revealed that transforming the lives of thousands of young people is the most incredible achievement in his life.
"Maybe one of the most satisfactory things was the development of the women athletes in my group. That is something that I'm very proud of.
"I would like to think that, as a person working in Kenya, I had an impact on young people's lives through athletics - using it to add value to young people's lives, to give them a future, hope and values,” he was quoted by The Buzz.
Gabriele Rosa
Brother Colm is not the only coach who comes to the mind of athletics stakeholders when you talk about Kenyan runners.
Gabriele Rosa’s role in developing Kenyan athletes, particularly marathoners, will never be forgotten.
Rosa, seen by many individuals as the best marathon coach in the world, taught Kenyans how to win long-distance races.
According to Rosa, Kenya had good runners, but the only challenge was understanding how to win competitions.
“I then came to Kenya in 1990, and we put together good runners, not the very top, but good runners who started training specifically for the marathon.
“In a short time, these athletes won many, many marathons as they now understood that marathon running was a new activity,” he told Nation in 2015.
From the legendary Paul Tergat to the barber-turn world record breaker Robert Cheruiyot Mwafrika, many brilliant Kenyan runners have passed through his hands.
Tergat alone won seven gold medals in his stellar career, five coming from the World Cross Country Championships.
Rosa has mentored other amazing runners: Moses Tanui, Prisca Jeptoo, Mathew Kisorio, Nancy Lagat, Paul Tanui, Asbel Kiprop, Jemima Sumgong and Martin Lel.
Some of the runners he made unbeatable include Paul Tergat, Robert Mwafrika Cheruiyot, and the three-time Boston Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo.
The Italian international came to Kenya thanks to an invitation from Moses Tanui, and established training camps in Iten, Kapsabet and Kaptagat.
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