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Gladys Cherono: Kenyan longdistance runner Wilson Kipsang: Finished second in the Berlin Marathon 2013
to theories that verge on the controversial.
it’s to do with the shape of their bodies. In
Another controversial theory about the
A few years ago the American sports jour-
common with other Nilotic tribes living near
Kalenjin is they can cope with the ‘pain
nalist and writer David Epstein published
the equator, the Kalenjin have exception-
barrier’ better than other athletes because
a book called ‘The Sports Gene’ in which
ally thin ankles and calves. This is crucially
of a tradition of stoicism that wouldn’t
he examines “the science of extraordi-
important in running, says Epstein, because
shame the people of Sparta in ancient
nary athletic performance”. Epstein was
the human leg is like a pendulum: the more
Greece. According to this theory, the young
intrigued by the fact that almost all of
weight you have at a distance from the
Kalenjin was conditioned to remain stoical
Kenya’s top runners are members of the
centre of gravity, the more difficult it is to
and unflinching when subjected to pain as
Kalenjin tribe, numbering around 5 million.
swing that pendulum.
part of his initiation rites. What is on record
At the time of publication of his book, Epstein said: “There are 17 American men
is that, at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City,
Studies
the Kalenjin runner Kipchoge Keino won gold
marathon. There were 32 Kalenjin who did
This thinking is borne out by two separate,
infection that would have made it very
it in October of 2011.”
European-led studies in a small region in
painful to breathe hard.
in history of have run under 2:10 in the
in the 1,500 metres in spite of a gallbladder
western Kenya which found that young men Others who have studied the Kalenjin tribe
there appeared to have a physical advantage
Whatever the explanation, there is no
have pointed to such factors as high-starch
that is common to their community. One
question that Kenyans’ remarkable ability
diet, altitude and socio-economics. But
of the researchers described the Kenyan
on the running track will continue to
Epstein is convinced there is something
physical differences as “bird-like” and noted
thrill not only their huge army of home
genetically different about the Kalenjin that
that these traits would make them more effi-
supporters but also lovers of the sport
makes them so outstanding. Quite simply,
cient runners, especially over long distances.
around the world.
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