Marathon Kenya star dies in fall

Updated May 16, 2011 06: 37 GMT  Samuel Wanjiru broke the Olympic record when he won the gold in 2008 the Kenyan Olympic champion marathon, Samuel "Sammy" Wanjiru, died after falling from a balcony at his home in the city of Nyahururu from the Rift Valley.

National police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said that it seems that he had killed himself.

The young man of 24 WINS in Beijing in 2008 in Olympic record time, became the first champion of the Kenya marathon.

Last December, he was charged of threat to kill his wife, Triza Njeri, assault and illegal possession of an AK-47 assault rifle.

Mrs Njeri subsequently withdrew his accusations, saying they had reconciled.

However, Wanjiru was to appear in court on May 23 on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm.

Prize money

The BBC Will Ross in Nairobi, said that the Olympic champion had a stormy relationship with his wife.

After a marital dispute, he fell from the balcony of his home in Nyahururu, 150 km (93 miles) northwest of Nairobi.

Police Nyahururu that Chief Jasper Ombati said the dispute began when Mrs Njeri returns unexpectedly find Wanjiru with a friend, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

The two women about the incident is currently the police interrogation.

WANJIRU suffered internal injuries from his fall and was pronounced dead in hospital after attempts to revive him failed.

Our correspondent says that some Kenyans believe that its domestic problems were related to its recently acquired prize money wealth.

Kenya has lost a great tragically young runner, he said.

In addition to becoming Olympic champion in the youngest since 1932, Wanjiru has also established marathon course records in London and Chicago.