By: Zhile Chen

After many years, Henry Rono, a famous, talented runner, returns home after suffering from addiction.

It had been almost 50 years since he first left Kiptaragon, Kenya, his hometown, and his life became an extraordinary adventure that took him from running competitively, to becoming addicted to alcohol.

When Rono was 26 years old, he set 4 world records in four different events, all of which took place in low-key meets. These events were the 3,000 meters, the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the 3,000-meter steeplechase, which no one else has ever done or has done after him. Almost no runners have the endurance to run more than 25 laps and do so with speed over seven and a half laps with barriers.

Rono first became interested in running at the age of 19, being inspired by Kipchoge Keino, a runner who lived nearby.

His opportunity to improve his running skills came when he was recruited into the army, as he trained a lot. He was named to the Kenyan squad and was going to participate in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, though that hope was squashed when Kenya declared a boycott about the inclusion of New Zealand in the Olympics.

But luckily, after a 1973 court ruling that overturned a N.C.A.A. rule that limited foreign athletes that were a certain age, American college coaches started recruiting more Africans. Rono was among those recruited, going to Pullman, Washington, to learn under a coach named John Chaplin.

Rono found running to be a great way to relive tension as he struggled to adjust to schooling and life in the U.S. By his second year of training in Snake River Canyon, he had broken four world records on a diet of cheeseburgers and Budweiser.

It was after the huge accomplishments, that the extremely tragic part of his life started. While he had a few more moments of honor that included another world record, his glory was quickly beginning to disappear.

Despite having a college degree and a contract with Nike, Rono still had personal struggles. Due to tension with the athletics officials back home, he began drinking commonly and became careless with his money. He forgot about a lot of his bank accounts, had cash stolen, and was enticed into doing bad investment by con artists.

Rono was quickly going around the U.S, staying with friends and rehabs, and working odd jobs.

His life wasn’t completely depressing though. He was a coach in New Mexico in the 1990s. He also went to college, and got a mastery of English, which he is extremely proud of.

“Running to me was second nature,” he said. “Education was my weakness.” Eventually, he published a memoir from 2010, “Olympic Dream.”

As it was financially becoming more difficult to live in the U.S., he began longing for Kenya, finally arriving back there in 2019. Still, trouble has followed him there, as there have been arguments over his properties.

But despite everything, Henry is content, and appreciates running for leading him through the world.

Source: The New York Times The Most Talented Runner of His Generation Takes the Unexpected Route Back Home