At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Kipchoge Keino was suffering from a gallbladder infection so severe that he collapsed during one race. He ran the 1,500 metres anyway. With American Jim Ryun, the world record holder and heavy favourite, he ran the race of his life. He won by the largest margin in Olympic 1,500 metre history. The altitude of Mexico City suited him. The pain in his body was irrelevant. He won gold. Kenya had found its sport and its first global champion. From that moment, the world would have to reckon with Kenyan distance running.