Kenya mourns death of Olympian Dickson Wanjiru

Kenya’s taekwondo fraternity is in mourning following the death of the 2008 Beijing Olympian Dickson Wamwiri Wanjiru.

According to Kenya Taekwondo Federation chairman Suleiman Sumba, the athlete collapsed in his bathroom and passed on while being rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital yesterday morning.

Wanjiru had been ailing for some time and had had ahead procedure not long ago.

Wamwiri who is the first ever Kenyan male to qualify for Olympics alongside Milkah Akinyi, was an outstanding athlete who remained champion in his weight category for over 20 yrs.

He won gold at the Algiers Africa games, silver in Abuja Africa games and silver in Maputo games in the flyweight division.

“He was a good athlete who was in a class of his own. He was well behaved during his career as an athlete and was a good role model to other upcoming athletes. He is the best taekwondo athlete Kenya has ever produced,” Sumba mourned in a statement Monday.

He will be buried on Thursday, September 10 2020 at his ancestral home in Ondiri, Kikuyu.