Wilfred Bungei is made honorary warrior

Mon 29/09/2008 16:03

Kelly Holmes was made a Dame after winning double Olympic gold and two-time Olympic 1500m champion Seb Coe became a Lord but Kenya’s recently minted Olympic 800m gold medallist Wilfred Bungei received the accolades of a Nandi warrior, spikesmag,com reports.

The 28-year-old, who put behind him a career of near misses on the global stage to claim victory in Beijing in 1:44.65, was adorned in monkey skin and presented with a beaded leadership baton to signify his status as an elder.

Bungei returned to Kenya after competing in a series of end-of-season races in the Far East and was overwhelmed by his homecoming.
“I had to be here,” he told Kenyan newspaper The Standard. “This is wonderful. It is really emotional to see all these people.”

He thanked all those who supported him throughout his career and added: “I want to thank all Kenyans for their support and athletes who worked hard to make this country proud. It didn’t come on a silver platter.”

Bungei, who is from the same village (Kabirirsang) as multiple world record holder Henry Rono and Kip Keino, the two-time former Olympic champion, confirmed he will no longer compete in major championships. The Olympic 800m champion will however, continue to compete on the Grand Prix circuit.