|
Vénuste Niyongabo was born in Vugizo on December 9, 1973. This middle distance (800-1500m) contender carved a prominent place for himself in the athletic world. Vénuste Niyongabo came to the limelight for the first time in the year 1992 at the World Junior Championship when he won a silver medal in 1,500 m race. Success followed Vénuste Niyongabo and in a very short period he became one of the top 1500 m runners in the world and subsequently won several races in 1994 and 1995.
In 1996, Vénuste Niyongabo became the first Olympic Champion by winning the Summer Olympics and he is the very first athlete of Burundi who won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics. The sensational performance of Vénuste Niyongabo continued and on 12 July at Paris he broke his own record of 2000 m race. The outstanding victory of Vénuste Niyongabo in several athletic events made the nation proud and he proved his merit very well.
Vénuste Niyongabo of Burundi continued with his running career which witnessed an upward growth. Unfortunately, this athletic champion had to quit his athletic career after he was plagued by a serious fracture in his foot during the Olympic season. Burundi athletes are extraordinary performers and they have proved their skills aptly both in the national and international scenario.
|
