Asati mourns Olympic teammate Daniel Rudisha

Legendary athlete Charles Asati has described the late Daniel Rudisha- the father of World 800m record holder David Rudisha – as a humble and hardworking man.

Asati competed alongside the deceased in the 4x400m relay team that won Kenya a silver medal in the 1968 Olympic Games held in Mexico together with Hezekiah Nyamao and the late Naftali Bon where the quartet finished behind USA.

Rudisha senior passed on Wednesday evening after succumbing to heart attack and Asati is fond of memories from their time in the national team.

“I have received the sad news of the demise of my friend Daniel who was my partner in the relay team where we won a silver medal in Mexico. I remember the late as a hardworking man both in track as well as in his profession as a teacher,” reflected Asati.

The death of Daniel came at a time when the athletics fraternity is still mourning the deaths of pioneer Olympian Nyandika Maiyoro and Commonwealth Games Javelin bronze medallist John Mayaka who was laid to rest on Thursday.

Asati who clinched double gold medals in the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games has however hit out at the government for paying a lip service to sports heroes who placed Kenya in the global map, who some of them have struggled in their retirement.

“I cannot lie to you that we as retired athletes have received any form of support from the government. Sometimes we even make some request and we get nothing. All in all, God is helping us,” said Asati who hails from Nyamira County.

Following their silver performance in Mexico, Asati and Nyamao teamed up with Robert Ouko and the late Julius Sang four years later in Munich to elevate the title to gold, Kenya’s and Africa’s only Olympic gold medal ever in the 4x400m relay.