KenyaBiography
Olympian. The man who brought first-ever global athletics gold medal to Kenya.
Born in Mombasa in an India-rooted Goa family. A keen sportsman in his youth, excelled in football. After broken Kenyan sprint records in 1957 (100/200 yards) selected to Commonwealth Games 1958 squad. He contested in Rome Olympics, ran 100m semis there.
At 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Seraphino Antao won 100 yards final with 9.5 (later adjusted as 9.50) in a contest alongside world record holder Harry Jerome from Canada, who injured during the final and came last. Five days later, he outclassed Englishman David Jones by 0.4 seconds to crowned as 'double winner'.
He retired after Tokyo Olympics, then moved to London. Died in London at the age of 74, after battling with cancer.
TRIVIA
♦ He was the flagbearer of Kenyan Olympic Team at the opening ceremony in Tokyo 1964. It was the first ceremony in which Kenya took part as an independent nation.
♦ In 2003, he attended Athletics Kenya's 50th year anniversary as a special guest.
Text by S.F.Erbay
(with additional information from itsgoa.com, Sean Cardovilis)