Two-time Olympic gold medallist and the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) best describes veteran Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino.
During the opening ceremony on Saturday, the 76-year old added another accolade to his name when he was awarded the Olympic Laurel Award, becoming the first to receive this award.
The award has been created by the International Olympic Committee to honour outstanding sportsmen and women for their achievements in social engagements.
It will be given every four years during the during the Olympic games to those with achievements in education, culture, development and peace through sport
The award was in recognition of Kipchoge's exceptional contribution to the Olympic movement and his work in educating orphaned children.
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Following his retirement from competition in 1973, Kipchoge opened a children's home, which is today home to almost 100 Kenyan orphans. In 1999, he opened the Kip Keino School offering more than 300 children aged from 6 to 13 the chance to get an education. In 2002, he opened the Kip Keino High
Performance Training Centre, welcoming the most promising athletes in Kenya.
As he jogged to the podium, showing too well that he could still give athletes a run for their money, his speech on education went like this: "Education supports not only empowers our youth to be better citizens and leaders of the future, but it will also mould them to connect positive change. Humanity depends on us to motivate them."
