Olympic silver medalist Daniel Rudisha, father of David, dies at 73

AP | Daniel Rudisha, an Olympic silver-medalist runner in 1968 and the father of 2-time Olympic 800-meter champion David Rudisha, has died. He was 73.

David Rudisha made the announcement on Thursday, saying his father had a heart attack on Wednesday while undergoing dialysis treatment. The elder Rudisha had struggled with diabetes for many years and had been in the intensive care unit this week.

“Our beloved father sadly left us last night,” David Rudisha said. “He had recovered and was on his way to fine health having been taken off the intensive care unit. He was speaking well and joking as usual while undergoing his dialysis treatment but at around 11 pm (3 pm EST) he suffered a sudden heart attack.

“We will try to remain strong during these difficult times.”

Daniel Rudisha won silver in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, one of Kenya’s earliest successes in track. Kip Keino broke onto the scene to win gold for Kenya in the 1,500 meters at the same Olympics.

David Rudisha, a world record-holder and 2-time world champion in the 800, often referred to his father as his inspiration. He gave his dad his first gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics, when he set the current world record. David posted pictures of himself and his father on Twitter this week.

The Kenyan track federation said Daniel Rudisha was a “pioneer” for Kenyan athletics.

In addition to coaching his son, Rudisha also mentored the careers of 2-time world 800-meter champion Billy Konchellah and his late brother Patrick Konchellah, winner of the 1994 Commonwealth Games 800-meter in Victoria, Canada, and Stephen Ole Marai, a 1987 world championships 800-meter finalist.

“(He) set the foundation for the current crop of athletes,” Athletics Kenya said.