Kenyan athletics icon Mike Boit has been honoured for his longstanding contribution to the sport after being inducted into the Memorial Van Damme Hall of Fame in Belgium.
Boit received the prestigious recognition during the Brussels Diamond League Final, nearly five decades after winning the men’s 800m at the inaugural Memorial Van Damme meeting in 1977.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano congratulated the former athlete on his induction, describing him as a pioneer whose achievements have helped raise Kenya’s profile internationally.
Miano also highlighted Kenya’s athletics heritage as an important asset in the country’s efforts to grow sports tourism and attract international competitions, athletes and visitors.
Boit made history on August 16, 1977, when he won the 800m at the first edition of the Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels.
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The event was established in honour of Belgian middle-distance runner Ivo Van Damme, who died in a road accident in December 1976 at the age of 22. Van Damme had won silver medals in the 800m and 1500m at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
According to the event organisers, Boit was the first Kenyan athlete to establish himself fully on the international athletics meeting circuit.
The Memorial Van Damme Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to honour athletes and individuals who have made significant contributions to the history and reputation of the Brussels meeting.
Its previous inductees include athletics greats such as Sebastian Coe, Steve Cram, Merlene Ottey, Hicham El Guerrouj, Gail Devers, Blanka Vlasic and Mike Powell.
