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Philip Boit Photo: Courtesy
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia have received scant attention in these parts. Winter sports may seem far removed from our reality, but Kenya does have some history in these games.
The most famous cross-country skier in Olympic history is a Kenyan. Philip Boit from Eldoret was Kenya’s first cross country cross-country skier and the first to participate in a Winter Olympics event.
His first event was the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Boit had only seen snow two years before that and had never used skis’ in his life. He finished 92nd and was the last man to complete a 10 kilometer event but his participation was stuff of legends.
The gold medalist in the event, Bjorn Daehlie waited 20 minutes after his finish for Boit to appear and hugged him. Boit was so blown by the gesture he named his son Daehlie Boit, in honour of the Olympic champion.
Boit was back on slopes in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City placing a respectable 64th position and was fourth from last. He represented Kenya again in the 2006 Winter Olympics’ in Turin and finished ahead of 5 competitors. It is a wonder, no Kenyan has followed Boit’s legendary Winter Olympic trail.
