Julius SANG

Starting out as a fairly unremarkable sprinter, Julius Sang gradually became a top 400 m runner. He reached the peak of his career at the Munich Olympics. In the individual 400 m event, Sang became the first African to medal in a sprint event, placing third. Because the two Americans in front of him had been barred from further competition due to their antics at the medal ceremony, this left Kenya as he favorite for the relay (Charles Asati had been fourth individually). The Kenyans did not disappointed, and Sang anchored his team home with a 43.5 leg to take the gold medal. Sang, who was married to Kenya's first female Olympian, Tekla Chemabwai, unexpectedly died in 2004 while undergoing treatment for a stomach ailment.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.3 (1968); 200 – 20.3y (1969); 400 – 44.92 (1972).