Sammy Wanjiru RIP

I first became aware of Sammy Wanjiru when he broke the world record for the half marathon in 2005 when he was only 18 years old. The first time I saw him run was in the London Marathon of 2008 where he finished second behind fellow Kenyan Martin Lel. What impressed me was his relaxation when running very quickly and his obvious enjoyment in his running.
In the 2008 Olympics, Sammy produced one of the finest marathon performances ever defying the oppressive heat to win in a new Olympic record. I remember watching the race thinking that he had gone off too fast and would pay in the latter stages of the race. While everyone else wilted in the heat, Sammy just kept going.
With his victories in London, Chicago and Bejing, Sammy won $500,000 and was recognised as the leading marathon runner in the world. However, injuries and domestic problems blighted his last couple of years. He was due in court for illegal possession of a firearm and had ongoing issues with his wife. There is still confusion of the circumstances surrounding his death.
The running world has lost an immensely talented runner whose bounce and enthusiasm lit up every race he was in. He will be greatly missed.