Paul Ereng
Encyclopedia
Paul Ereng is a former Kenya
n athlete, and the surprise winner of the 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Kitale
, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, Paul Ereng attended Starehe Boys Centre and School
in Nairobi
, Kenya. He was a promising 400 m runner until the end of 1987. After enrolling at the University of Virginia
, Ereng took up the 800 m in early 1988.
Ereng was undefeated during the U.S.
outdoor season in early 1988. He won the NCAA
800 m title in 1988 and 1989. But in the Kenyan Olympic trials, Ereng barely qualified for the Olympic team, finishing third. Despite his rapid development, Ereng wasn't seen as a potential gold medallist when he arrived at the Olympic Games
in Seoul
. However, people started to rate his chances more seriously after he won his semi-final in a personal best of 1:44.55.
In the Olympic final
, Ereng was fourth as they entered the straight, but he then surged past the three runners in front of him to win the gold medal. After the Olympics, he returned home to Kenya to a hero's welcome, the highlight of which was receiving, in a time-honoured tradition, his gold medal was once more presented to him during evening assembly at his former school, Starehe, by the late Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin
. At the World Indoor Championships in Budapest
the following year, Ereng produced a devastating finish to win the gold medal in a new world indoor record
of 1:44.84.
In 1991, Ereng retained his world indoor title at Seville
, but was only fourth in the World Championships
at Tokyo
. Ereng never posed a serious threat in major international championships after that, and he was eliminated in the semi-finals at the 1992 Olympic Games
.
Ereng graduated from Virginia in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in religious studies
with a minor in sociology
. He owns a 50 acres (202,343 m²) farm in Kitale. His wife, Fatima, a former sales executive of the Nation Media Group
Right now he works as an athletics coach in the University of Texas at El Paso
.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n athlete, and the surprise winner of the 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
Born in Kitale
Kitale
Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around . Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007....
, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, Paul Ereng attended Starehe Boys Centre and School
Starehe Boys Centre and School
Starehe Boys' Centre and School is a partial-board,boys-only school in Nairobi, Kenya. The school was founded in 1959 by Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, MBS, OBE, Geoffrey Gatama Geturo and Joseph Kamiru Gikubu. It started as a rescue centre...
in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya. He was a promising 400 m runner until the end of 1987. After enrolling at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, Ereng took up the 800 m in early 1988.
Ereng was undefeated during the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outdoor season in early 1988. He won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
800 m title in 1988 and 1989. But in the Kenyan Olympic trials, Ereng barely qualified for the Olympic team, finishing third. Despite his rapid development, Ereng wasn't seen as a potential gold medallist when he arrived at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. However, people started to rate his chances more seriously after he won his semi-final in a personal best of 1:44.55.
In the Olympic final
Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entrylist of 70 competitors, with nine qualifying heats , four second-round races and two semi-finals , before the final took off on Monday September 26, 1988....
, Ereng was fourth as they entered the straight, but he then surged past the three runners in front of him to win the gold medal. After the Olympics, he returned home to Kenya to a hero's welcome, the highlight of which was receiving, in a time-honoured tradition, his gold medal was once more presented to him during evening assembly at his former school, Starehe, by the late Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin
Geoffrey William Griffin
Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin was the founding director of Starehe Boys' Centre and School. He founded the school in November, 1959 with the help of the late Geoffrey Geturo and Joseph Gikubu, the current senior deputy director of the school; he directed the school from its founding to the end of...
. At the World Indoor Championships in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
the following year, Ereng produced a devastating finish to win the gold medal in a new world indoor record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 1:44.84.
In 1991, Ereng retained his world indoor title at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, but was only fourth in the World Championships
1991 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 800 metres
These are the official results of the Men's 800 metres event at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. There were a total number of 42 participating athletes, with three qualifying heats, two semi-finals and the final held on Tuesday August 27, 1991.-Medalists:-Schedule:*All times are...
at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Ereng never posed a serious threat in major international championships after that, and he was eliminated in the semi-finals at the 1992 Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Ereng graduated from Virginia in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
with a minor in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. He owns a 50 acres (202,343 m²) farm in Kitale. His wife, Fatima, a former sales executive of the Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania...
Right now he works as an athletics coach in the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
.