Kalenjin Tribe

Since 1980 about 40% of the top honors in men’s long-distance international athletics have gone to Kenyans from a single tribe, the Kalenjin. A number of theories explaining the unusual athletic prowess among people from this tribe have been proposed: from having a high-starch diet, the altitude they live in, having thin ankles and calves, running to school every day to a culture that teaches pain endurance.

Previous Fact Next Fact