Athletics: Olympic champion Wanjiru dies

The police were investigating whether Wanjiru had committed suicide or whether he had jumped from the balcony.

NAIROBI: Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya died at the age of 24 after falling from the second floor of his home in the town of Nyahururu. “He fell from the balcony of his home after a row with his wife,” said a police officer in the region. “We found him lying on the verandah with a broken skull.” He added that police were investigating whether Wanjiru had committed suicide or whether he had jumped from the balcony and died accidentally. In the history of Olympic marathon running, Wanjiru at 21 ranks as the second-youngest winner ever.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.