Naftali Temu

Medal record
Temu at Mexico City 1968
Men's Athletics
Competitor for  Kenya
Olympic Games
Gold	1968 Mexico City	10000 metres
Bronze	1968 Mexico City	5000 metres
All-Africa Games
Silver	1965 Brazzaville	5000 metres

Naftali Temu (April 20, 1945 – March 10, 2003) was a Kenyan athlete, who won the 10.000 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Early career

Born in Nyamira District, Naftali Temu started running at the age of 14. After completing schooling, he joined the Kenyan Army.^[1]

Temu competed at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, where he finished 49th in marathon ^[2]

He won 5000 metres silver medal at the inaugural All-Africa Games in 1965, the race was won by Kipchoge Keino. He burst onto the international long distance running scene at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, where he won gold medal and beat the world record holder Ron Clarke in the six miles. Two days later, Temu finished fourth in the three miles.

1968 Olympics

At the Mexico Olympics, in the 10 000 m final, only Mamo Wolde from Ethiopia managed to keep Temu's pace. Wolde went to lead at the bell, but Temu passed him with only 50 m remaining to win the gold. Four days later, he contested the 5000 m final, where he won the bronze medal, only narrowly beaten by Mohammed Gammoudi from Tunisia and fellow countryman Kip Keino. Later, he also contested the Olympic marathon, where he had again a great battle with Wolde, but the latter broke free just after the 30 km mark, and exhausted Temu managed to finish only in nineteenth place.

Retirement and afterwards

The rest of the Temu's athletics career went downward. He finished nineteenth in the 10 000 m at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, and was eliminated in the heats of the 10 000 m at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

He retired in 1973. After his career he ran a farm in North Mugirango. The farm was a gift from then president Jomo Kenyatta ^[1]

Naftali Temu died of prostate cancer in Kenyatta National Hospital, aged 57. The diagnosis had been made many months before his death, but he could not afford the US$ 600 needed for medical treatment.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Daily Nation, March 11, 2003: Kenya's track hero Temu dies aged 58
2. ^ Men Marathon Olympic Games 1964 Tokyo (JPN) - Wednesday 21.10

Sports Reference

Persondata
Name	Temu, Naftali
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 20, 1945
Place of birth
Date of death	March 10, 2003
Place of death