| wejo co-founder |
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It is with a sad heart that I report that 24 year old Sammy Wanjiru, the 2008 Olympic Champion, and in LetsRun.com's opinion the greatest marathoner to ever live, has died in Kenya. Shadrack Biwott, the former University of Oregon runner and brother of Kenyan marathon star, Duncan Kibet, called us with the news of Wanjiru's tragic death and another Kenyan American who wished to be anonymous called as well with the news. I'm sure there will be a lot of speculation and news surrounding the cause of death. There can be other threads for that. The sport of running lost one of its best way too young today and this thread is meant to be where you can pay your respects to Sammy. RIP Sammy. |
| unspeakable |
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wow.. that truly is sad. |
| haha YO |
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Oh my god. RIP. His last race in Chicago was one of the gutsiest races I have ever seen, he was such a badass that day. Very sad to hear he has passed. |
| Lorenzo the Magnificent |
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Unbelievable. Very tough news. |
| agip |
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holy cow - what words? His fight in Chicago last year has motivated me in every last mile I run - he was one of the greats. One of the toughest guys of all time. |
| GWT |
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RIP Sammy! |
| Chocopologist |
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What a terrible, tragic loss. |
| rsbones |
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Not yet a single news result coming up through google news. (searched for mentions within last week and got nothing). |
| Just a fan |
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Terribly sad. The Olympic marathon was one of the greatest ever. |
| sprint7 |
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Holy crap... |
| CoachedbyMarden |
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Rest in peace. |
| Til the World Ends |
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Wow, I am shocked by this, checked the date to make sure this wasn't April 1. It looks confirmed on Twitter now |
| Lorenzo the Magnificent |
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Yes,, David monti has confirmed it |
| on the twitter |
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Best I could find: http://twitter.com/#!/d9monti Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru has died. Got an call from an athlete, then his manager Federico Rosa confirmed it. No firm details. |
| Just a fan |
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Terribly sad. The Olympic marathon was one of the greatest ever. |
| Old Ultra Guy |
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A. E. Housman. To An Athlete Dying Young THE time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. To-day, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay, And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. Eyes the shady night has shut Cannot see the record cut, And silence sounds no worse than cheers After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honours out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man. So set, before its echoes fade, The fleet foot on the sill of shade, And hold to the low lintel up The still-defended challenge-cup. And round that early-laurelled head Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, And find unwithered on its curls The garland briefer than a girl's. |
| What Else |
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Wow, I'm in complete shock just like everyone else reading this news. My greatest memory of Sammy is when he pushed the pace in the Olympic Marathon and dropped everyone. As an American, of course I was rooting for Ryan Hall and the lot, but watching Sammy push through the terrible Beijing conditions to an Olympic record, you couldn't say he didn't deserve it more. RIP Sammy. Thanks for inspiring a new generation. |
| Tommy2Nutts |
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RIP Sammy Wanjiru. The Olympic marathon was one of the most incredible races I've ever seen, and I've been a huge fan ever since. |
| aholian |
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He burned too bright, and for too short of a time. |
| J.R. |
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It is truly shocking that Sammy Wanjiru has passed. |