DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY today hosted 800m world record holder David Rudisha.
The Kenyan, who won gold at this year’s Olympic Games, was in Dublin to attend a ceremony honouring Brother Colm O’Connell – the Irish missionary regarded one of the most successful endurance running coaches in the world.
Cork native O’Connell, who moved to the small village of Iten in Kenya back in 1976 to teach and has lived their since, has trained five Olympic gold medallists as well as 20 world champions to-date. At the event this afternoon, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy.
Nicknamed “the godfather of Kenyan running”, Brother O’Connell told DCU.ie: ”It is a very humbling experience for me to stand here today to receive such an honour. When looking down through the list of honorary graduates who have gone before me in being honoured by this distinguished university, I feel, indeed, very happy.
Also, for somebody to be selected from a remote little village in the highlands of Western Kenya and to be recognised in such a manner is beyond my wildest dreams and imaginings.”
Olympic gold medallist Rudisha visits DCU as Irish missionary is honoured
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY today hosted 800m world record holder David Rudisha.
The Kenyan, who won gold at this year’s Olympic Games, was in Dublin to attend a ceremony honouring Brother Colm O’Connell – the Irish missionary regarded one of the most successful endurance running coaches in the world.
Cork native O’Connell, who moved to the small village of Iten in Kenya back in 1976 to teach and has lived their since, has trained five Olympic gold medallists as well as 20 world champions to-date. At the event this afternoon, he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy.
Nicknamed “the godfather of Kenyan running”, Brother O’Connell told DCU.ie: ”It is a very humbling experience for me to stand here today to receive such an honour. When looking down through the list of honorary graduates who have gone before me in being honoured by this distinguished university, I feel, indeed, very happy.
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ACHIEVEMENT Brother Colm O'Connell David Rudisha Dublin City University gold medallist Kenya mentor Olympic recognition