View source for Peter Rono

{{Short description|Kenyan middle-distance runner}}
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{KEN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m]] }}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Peter Kipchumba Rono''' (born 31 July 1967) is a former [[Kenya]]n [[Athletics (sport)|athlete]], who won the 1,500 metres at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]].

==Career==

Born in [[Kamobo]] village, near [[Kapsabet]], Rono won the gold medal at the Africa Cross Country Championships in [[Nairobi]], Kenya, in 1985 and in 1986 he was the silver medallist in the 1500m at the  [[1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]] in [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. In 1987, he was a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]].

He attended [[St. Patrick's High School (Iten, Kenya)|St. Patrick's High School]], [[Iten]] where he was trained by Brother Colm O'Connell, an Irish [[Patrician (post-Roman Europe)|Patrician]] missionary and headmaster of the school at that time.

At the 1988 Olympic Games, Rono managed to closely defeat the main favourites, [[Peter Elliott (athlete)|Peter Elliott]] and [[Steve Cram]] of [[Great Britain]], thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion at [[1500 m]] (21 years and 62 days).

Rono never won a major race again. He earned his [[bachelor's degree]] and [[master's degree]] from [[Mount Saint Mary's University]] in [[Maryland]], while competing, and later coaching, for the institution.

Peter Rono currently lives in [[New Jersey]], USA where he is employed by the sales and marketing department of the shoe manufacturer [[New Balance]]. He is married to [[Mary Kirui]], a runner who won 10,000 metres bronze medal at the [[Athletics at the 1987 All-Africa Games|1987 All-Africa Games]] held in [[Nairobi]], Kenya. They have five children, Irene Rono, Winnie Rono, Patrick Rono, Cynthia Rono and Nosheena Kurui. Their son Patrick Rono attended the [[University of Arkansas]]. Their daughter Irene is also a runner.<ref>The Standard, November 4, 2009: [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144027814&cid=39& Young Rono emulating father and mother]</ref>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable|width=auto|Event=yes}}
|-
! colspan="6" | Representing {{KEN}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1986
| rowspan=2 | [[1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Athens]], [[Greece]]
| bgcolor=silver | 2nd
| 1500m
| [[1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres|3:45.52]]
|-
| 14th
| 5000m
| [[1986 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Men's 5000 metres|14:20.03]]
|}

== References ==
* {{World Athletics}}
{{Reflist}}
* From Strength to Strength, the Story of Peter Kipchumba Rono, by Kibny'aanko Seroney. Published by Mvule Africa Publishers, Nairobi 2009.

{{Footer Olympic Champions 1500 m Men}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rono, Peter}}
[[Category:Kenyan men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Kenyan men cross country runners]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1989 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:20th-century Kenyan sportsmen]]