Sri Lankan runner's 'victory' in defeat! June 22, 2020, 8:07 pm

The runner was a senior in my village school run by the Church.

Mr. Tommy Arther who was our coach used to say.

"What matters is participation not winning".

Karu took the advice to the extreme by taking an extra lap at Tokyo! 

I only stuck to 100 meters (yards to be precise) where I was successful in the school and later in the University. 

I was my own coach! 

Reproduction

Sri Lankan runner's 'victory' in defeat!

June 22, 2020, 8:07 pm

Sunny Island by Ruhunu Puthra

In the year 1964, the Olympic Games were held in Japan. We were Ceylonese back then.

The best long distance runner of Sri Lanka at the time, R.J. Karunananda ran in the 10,000 metres event (400 meters x 25 laps). Twenty nine athletes from 17 nations participated in the event.

He found that with four more laps for him to run, William Mills of the United States had already romped home. Even after the others had finished running an undaunted Karu, proceeded to run the remaining four laps, with rare courage and firm determination, as a lone runner.

When he ran his first lap, some spectators jeered and at the 2nd lap, the crowd fell silent. Then there was applause, followed by massive cheering. The whole stadium was reverberating with the chant 'Karu Ceylon! Karu Ceylon!'

Finally, he finished the race amidst tumultuous cheering and a standing ovation from 60,000 spectators. On hearing it, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was the chief guest, came out to congratulate 'the most spirited loser' of the Olympic Games.

Soon after the race, he was interviewed by the press. Karu told the reporters "The Olympic spirit is not to win but to take part. So I came here, I took part in the 10,000 metre event and completed my rounds."

He was acclaimed as a hero by the Japanese media. Even though he did not win any medal, he won the hearts of many admirers all over the world and was the true winner of the people.

One would have thought that it was the end of the heroic story. It was not to be. The Japanese Government in its wisdom thought otherwise. His story was made into a chapter in a text book, accompanied by his photograph, as a life lesson in determination, integrity, courage, self-confidence and persistence, for the children.

Karu received a warm welcome when he returned to Sri Lanka.

Born on May 21, 1936, Karu was a soldier in the Sri Lanka Army. He continued to serve his motherland as a dedicated soldier when in 1975, he 'drowned' in the Namal Oya Tank.

Ranatunga J. Karunananda is an unsung Olympic hero of Sri Lanka.