Ruth Waithera Nganga is a retired sprinter from Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

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Waithera won bronze over 200 metres at the 1978 All-Africa games

Athletics at the 1978 All-Africa Games

The third All-Africa Games were held in July 1978 in Algiers, Algeria.New events were added to the athletics program; Decathlon and pentathlon, for men and women respectively, as well as men's 20 km road walk...

 and 1979 African Championships

1979 African Championships in Athletics

The 1979 African Championships in Athletics were held in the Stade Demba Diop in Dakar, Senegal. There were a total number of 251 competitors from 24 countries, with 23 men's and 16 women's events.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:...

. Waithera won twice three sprint events (100, 200 and 400 meters) at the East and Central African Championships; in 1977 and 1979.

She competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics

1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

, finishing 8th in 400 metres race and reaching 200 metres

Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres

These are the official results of the Women's 200m metres event at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The final was held on August 9, 1984.-Medalists:-Abbreviations:-Quarterfinals:*Held on 1984-08-08-Semifinals:...

 semifinals. She became the first African woman to reach 400 metres Olympic final. At the time she was studying at the University Of Arizona

University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...

 and she won NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Championship

NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship

NCAA team champions for Women's Indoor Track and Field-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions*NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship*NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship...

 in 400 metres in 1984. At the 2004 Kenyan championships she won three individual gold medals; 100, 200 and 400 metres.

Waithera still holds the Women's 400 metres Kenyan record

Kenyan records in athletics

The following are the national records in athletics in Kenya maintained by Athletics Kenya .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratifiedOT = oversized track-External links:*...

, 51.56, set in 1984. In 2008 Elizabeth Muthuka

Elizabeth Muthuka

Elizabeth Muthuka is runner form Kenya who concentrates on 400 metres. Her surname is sometimes spelled Muthoka.Muthuka won 100, 200 and 400 metres races at the 2005 Kenyan Athletics Championships and has won number of national championships since then. She competed at the 2006 African...

 broke the record, but tested positive for doping. Thus Waithera's record remains in force. As of 2008, Waithera remains also the latest Kenyan woman to compete 400 metres at the Olympics. Waithera is a former African record

African records in athletics

African records in athletics are the best marks set in a track and field and road running events by an athlete who competes for a member nation of the Confederation of African Athletics . The organisation is responsible for ratification and it analyses each record before approving it...

 holder over 400 metres.

Waithera is from Shamata village. She was a member of the Kenya Air Force

Kenya Air Force

The Kenya Air Force is the national Air Force of Kenya.The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of...

. She established the Avenue Sports Club in 1998 to give orphan children an opportunity to have a career in athletics. In 1990 She was awarded a membership of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame

She is not to be confused with a Kenyan steeplechase runner, born in 1990, who is also named Ruth Waithera.

Achievements

Representing
1979	African Championships 1979 African Championships in Athletics The 1979 African Championships in Athletics were held in the Stade Demba Diop in Dakar, Senegal. There were a total number of 251 competitors from 24 countries, with 23 men's and 16 women's events.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:...	Dakar, Senegal	3rd	200 m	24.66 s