Gezahegne Abera (ETH) just clinches World Championships Marathon title ahead of Simon Biwott (© Getty Images)
Kenya's former World marathon silver medallist Simon Biwott, has decided to retire from international running. A persistent back-injury, which hampered him for the last two years, has stopped him from competing at high level.
The 34-year-old started international running at the age of 27 and was at the height of his fame when winning the silver medal at the 2001 IAAF World Championships. At those championships Biwott directed his opponent, Olympic Champion Gezahagne Abera who had taken a wrong turn, back on the right course just a few hundred metres before the finish line, only to lose the sprint finish to Abera by just one second.
In his illustrious career Simon Biwott won 6 out of the 15 marathons - Cancun'98, Mexico-City '98, Berlin'00, Milan'00, Paris'01 and Rotterdam'02 - and set his personal best time of 2:06:49, when finishing 2nd in Berlin'02.
Investing in a school
Now that Biwott has decided to retire from international running, he has invested in the construction of a school in his hometown Eldoret. In the near future, this private school named "Livingstone" will accommodate 160 pupils at primary level. Biwott's new challenge is making his school the best one in the Eldoret region.
"Running has given me a lot,” said Biwott. “I am grateful to all the organisers, sponsors and journalists who have made my stay in the running-scene a pleasant one. I will always be available to assist young athletes with the first steps in their careers and through them, I will stay connected to the world of marathon running".
