When the future generations are told the story of successful Kenyan athletes, Henry Rono will be among them.
Not due to the circumstances that led to his downfall, but because of the unparalleled achievements that Rono registered 45 years ago.
In 1978, Rono produced one of the greatest performances in athletics history, breaking four world records in 81 days!
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Rono, who later became an athletics coach in the United States, destroyed the 3000m, 3,000m Steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m world records in less than three months.
He ran 27:22.50 to smash the existing 10,000m world record in an event staged in Vienna, Austria.
The man who doubled up as a school teacher also shattered the 3,000m and 3,000m Steeplechase world records that year.
He crossed the finishing line at 7:32.1 and 8:05.04 in the events held in Oslo, Sweden and Seattle, United States, respectively.
The multiple gold medalists, who later struggled financially, set a novel 5,000m world record in Berkley, United States.
However, the experience he had before smashing the 5,00m world record in Oslo is out of this world.
Unlike other professional runners like Eliud Kipchoge, Rono got drunk the night before the race.
Since he had a hangover, the special man went for a morning run to get sober before setting a new world record of 13:06.20 later that evening.
The two-time Commonwealth Games winner told the athletics world governing body in 2009 that he struggled with alcoholism for more than five years after the outstanding performances.
"I've been to the top of the highest mountain and then down to the bottom of the world.
"Looking back now, I can remember what happened in 1978, but then the next eight years are more-or-less a blank," read part of his statement.
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