Kipchoge Keino came into the games in Munich as the defending champion over 1500m. He was unable to defend this title, settling for silver in a time of 3 minutes 36.8 seconds as Finland’s PekkaVasala claimed gold in 3 minutes 36.3 seconds.
Kenya returned for their fifth Olympic games in Munich, West Germany in 1972 having caught the world’s attention with a breath taking display in Mexico four years earlier.
The country was represented in four disciplines namely athletics, boxing, hockey and swimming by a total of 57 athletes who included two female athletes.
Kipchoge Keino came into the games in Munich as the defending champion over 1500m. He was unable to defend this title, settling for silver in a time of 3 minutes 36.8 seconds as Finland’s PekkaVasala claimed gold in 3 minutes 36.3 seconds.
He atoned for this by ensuring the 3000m steeplechase gold remained in Kenya after winning the final in an Olympic record time of 8 minutes 23.6 seconds with compatriot Ben Jicho taking silver in 8 minutes 24.6 seconds as defending champion Amos Biwott could only manage sixth place ten seconds behind Kip Keino.
Kenya’s second gold came from the 4 x 400m relay quartet of Charles Asati, MunyoroNyamau, Julius Sang’ and Robert Ouko.
Philip Waruinge, fighting in his third Olympics, went a step further as he improved on the bronze medal from the 1968 games in Mexico. He lost the final by a split points decision, going down 3-2 to the USSR’s Boris Kuznetsov to claim silver in the featherweight category. His younger brother Sammy Mbugua in the lightweight category and welterweight Dick “Tiger” Murunga were defeated in the semifinals of their respective weight categories, both settling for silver and crowning an impressive display by the boxing team.
The other medals for Team Kenya came in the form of bronze medals from Julius Sang in the 400m and Mike Boit in the 800m.
Overall, Kenya claimed 2 gold medals, 3 silvers and 4 bronze at this games.
Kenya contingent to Munich 1972
ATHLETICS: Men:John Mwebi (100m), Dan Amuke (100m/200m), Julius Sang, Charles Asati, MunyoroNyamau (400m/ 4 x 400m relay), Mike Boit (800m/1500m), Robert Ouko (800m/ 4 x 400m relay), Thomas Saisi (800m), Kipchoge Keino (1500m/300m steeplechase), Cosmas Silei (1500m), Ben Jipcho (5000m/3000m steeplechase), Paul Mose (5000m/10000m), Evans Mogaka (5000m), Richard Juma (10000m/Marathon), Naftali Temu (10000m), Bill Kosei, Mike Murei, FatwellKimaiyo (400m hurdles), Amos Biwott (3000m steeplechase), Patrick Onyango (Triple Jump) Women:TeklaChemabwai (400m), CheronoMaiyo (800m/1500m)
BOXING:Felix Maina (Flyweight), John Nderu (Bantamweight), Philip Waruinge (Featherweight), Samuel Mbugua (Lightweight), Dick Murunga (Welterweight), David Attan (Light Middleweight), Peter Dula (Middleweight), Steven Thega (Light Weightweight)
HOCKEY:Amarjeet Singh Marwa, Jagmel Singh Rooprai, Avtar Singh Sohal, Harvinder Singh Marwa, Surjeet Singh Rihal, Resham Singh Baines, Jagjeet Singh Kular, Davinder Singh Deegan, Leo Fernandes, Brajinder Singh Daved, Tarlochan Singh Chana, Philip D’Souza, Surjeet Singh Panesar, Mohamed Ajmal Malik, Harvinder Pal Singh Sibia, Renny Pereira, Silvester Ashioya, Ranjit Singh Sehmi
SHOOTING:John Muhato, Peter Laurence, John Harun Mwau, Leonard Bull, Michael Carr-Hartley, Brian Carr-Hartley, DismusOnyiego, Simon Ekeno, Abdul Rahman Omar