Daniel Komen donates world-breaking spikes to World Athletics' museum

Legendary Kenyan runner Daniel Komen on Sunday, 22 March donated his 5000m world indoor record spikes from 1998 to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) during a special ceremony at the Toruń Plaza shopping centre.

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Komen was among six world champions who generously delivered their historic competition items to the new MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26 in Poland.

©World Athletics

Officially opened on 20 February, the exhibition has been a focal point for athletics fans and the general public alike, highlighting the widespread passion for the sport ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Komen, also a 1997 world 5000m champion, on 19 February 1998 surpassed Haile Gebrselassie’s 5000m indoor record by almost eight seconds as he clocked a dominant 12:51.48 at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Speaking at the ceremony, which also witnessed the awarding of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the ‘Legend’ category to Poland’s first male Olympic gold medallist in any sport, Janusz Kusociński, Komen said: “Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but what remains his friendship – that’s what sport is about; bringing people together.

Haile (Gebrselassie) is now a great friend, even though we were great rivals on the track.”

The now 49-year-old Komen won multiple medals in his career, spanning from World Junior Championships, African Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and World Cross Country Championships.

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Joining him in handing over historic donations to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe were other icons including: Sebastian Chmara, Nelli Cooman, Noureddine Morceli, Paweł Wojciechowsk and Adam Kszczot.

“From donations of historic competition items generously given to the Museum of World Athletics by six world champions, to the honouring of Poland's first ever men’s Olympic champion across all sports, this afternoon’s MOWA ceremony celebrated our sport’s rich history,” Coe said after receiving the individual donations.

“The MOWA Indoor Athletics Exhibition Kujawy Pomorze 26, which over the last month has been viewed by more than 55,000 visitors to the Torun Plaza shopping centre, has emphatically confirmed the deep culture and love of track and field athletics which thrives in Poland.”

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Following each donation, World Athletics Heritage Director Chris Turner presented each athlete with an exclusive MOWA Donor’s Pin, a unique mark of distinction for those who contribute to the museum's collection, helping to preserve athletics history.