Naftali Temu
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1968 Mexico City | 10000 metres | |
| Bronze | 1968 Mexico City | 5000 metres | |
Naftali Temu (born April 20, 1945 — died March 10, 2003) was a Kenyan athlete, who won the 10.000 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Born in Sotik, Buret District, Naftali Temu burst onto the international long distance running scene at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, where he beat the world record holder Ron Clarke in the six miles. Two days later, Temu finished fourth in the three miles.
At the Mexico Olympics, in the 10 000 m final, only Mamo Wolde from Ethiopia managed to keep Temu's pace. Wolde went to lead at the bell, but Temu passed him with only 50 m remaining to win the gold. Four days later, he contested the 5000 m final, where he won the bronze medal, only narrowly beaten by Mohammed Gammoudi from Tunisia and fellow countryman Kip Keino. Later, he also contested the Olympic marathon, where he had again a great battle with Wolde, but the latter broke free just after the 30 km mark, and exhausted Temu managed to finish only in nineteenth place.
The rest of the Temu's athletics career went downward. He finished nineteenth in the 10 000 m at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, and was eliminated in the heats of the 10 000 m at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Naftali Temu died of prostate cancer in Kenyatta National Hospital, aged 57. The diagnosis had been made many months before his death, but he could not afford the US$ 600 needed for medical treatment.
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