When Kipchoge Keino Met US President Ronald Reagan at White House

Veteran Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino once met United States President Ronald Reagan at the Oval Office and even took photos behind the desk that is in use to date. 

The reception that also involved eight other celebrated personalities across the globe took place on January 4, 1988.

This was an honour to those who emerged as winners in the "1987 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year" awards.

[caption caption="Kipchoge Keino (far left) with President Ronald Reagan"][/caption]

Also in attendance at the official office of the President of the United States were celebrated sportspersons including Rory Sparrow (Chicago Bulls), Chip Rives (Wake Forest), Judi Brown King (Athletics West), Dale Murphy (Atlanta Braves) and Reggie Williams (Cincinnati Bengals).

During the reception, Reagan posed with the stars for the cover of the magazine Sports Illustrated.

Kipchoge had won at the World Championships in Rome (1987) and All Africa Games in Nairobi earlier in the year.

Other outstanding achievements by the athlete include winning gold medals in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.

He also flew the Kenyan flag high at 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games and 1965 All Africa Games where he won gold medals.

The athlete, who has also won an array of silver and bronze medals in many events, is a retired police officer and an accomplished businessman.

Kipchoge, 78, retired from the track and field athletics in 1973 after participating in his final 1500 metres competition in Lagos.

Watch video here:

[Video: ]