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Olympic marathon champ Sammy Wanjiru dies

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-16 13:25

Samuel Kamau Wanjiru of Kenya celebrates winning the men's marathon in the athletics competition at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in this file picture taken August 24, 2008. [Photo/Agencies]

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenyan Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru died early Monday after jumping from a balcony, police said.

John Mbijiwe, the police chief in Kenya's Central Province, said initial information indicated 24-year-old Wanjiru died after jumping from a balcony at his Rift Valley home, but the death is subject to further investigation.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in the marathon, finishing in an Olympic-record 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

Wanjiru has had a history of domestic problems. Last December he was charged with wounding his security guard with a rifle and threatening to kill his wife and maid. He denied all charges and was released on bail.

Wanjiru was the youngest runner to win four major marathons. He finished first in London in 2009 and the 2008 Olympics and won twice in Chicago. He was forced to pull out of April's London Marathon because of a right knee injury.