Man on a Mission: Brother Colm O'ConnellHosted by Eamonn Coghlan

Fantastic documentary presented by former World Indoor Mile record holder, and 1983 World 5000m Champion, Eamonn Coghlan. Inspired to take up running by Kenya’s 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kip Keino, Coghlan travels to St. Patrick’s High School in Iten, Kenya, to meet Brother Colm O’Connell, an Irish Patrician missionary and former headmaster of the school. O’Connell was the man who coached Wilson Kipketer to a World Record in the 800m, and currently coaches the man who broke that World Record, David Rudisha, and former Commonwealth 5000m champion Augustine Choge, amongst others.

Coghlan wants to find out what it is about the Kenyan distance runners, and especially those living and training in Iten, which makes them produce so many world beaters. Through conversations with O’Connell, Rudisha, Keino, and his contemporary Mike Boit, Coghlan gives us a fascinating insight into the training practices, both mental and physical, which leave the Kenyan athletes a few steps ahead of the rest of the world. The video won the award for Irish Sports Programme of the Year at the 2011 Irish Film and Television Awards.

Presented by Eamonn Coghlan, Directed by Maurice Sweeney.
Video from jamieleedalton, hosted on Vimeo.