Stanley Biwott - From selling milk to winning races

NEW DELHI: Stanley Biwott, 28, worked on a dairy farm in Kenya till 2006. Dairy farming was his main profession, something his family was dependent on for survival. In 2006, things took a turn for the better when he decided to become an athlete and started training under Italian coach Claudio Berardelli. Since then, he has competed in a number of events and announced his arrival on the world stage by winning both the Paris Marathon and Half Marathon in 2012.
"Whenever I won a race, I would spend the prize money on buying more cattle," recalls Stanley. "A good cow costs around $1500 as it gives a lot of milk," says the proud owner of 10 cows. Currently in the Capital to participate in his first Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM), Stanley says he is not able to devote much time to farming these days and enjoys watching football in his spare time.
"There are 10 members in my family plus my extended family which stays with us. They take care of the business when I'm not around. We have been into selling milk for years now. It's a thriving business back home in my community," says Stanley, who finished second in this year's London Marathon.
Asked if he has plans to buy more cows if he wins on Sunday, he laughs, "Now, it's enough for me. I have no plans to buy any more." Sitting next to him is his Kenyan co-athlete and 2014 World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamwoor who has starred in a movie called 'The Unknown Runner'. It's a biopic which shows the struggles he faced on way to becoming a world star.
"The purpose behind my movie was to inspire upcoming athletes so that they can overcome anything, like I did," says the 21-year-old Kamwoor. "Running is tougher than acting. Maybe I can work in a few more movies," he laughs.
Kamwoor loves reading novels and enjoys spending time with young and upcoming athletes. "I love assisting upcoming athletes with my prize money ," says the 2013 ADHM runner-up.