Tributes paid to Wanjiru

Tributes have poured in from the athletics community following the death of Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru on Monday.

The 24-year-old Kenyan died in the early hours of Monday morning after falling from a balcony at his home in the Rift Valley town of Nyahururu.

Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie said on Twitter: "I am totally shocked of the news of the death of Sammy Wanjiru. My thoughts are with his family and all his friends and colleagues.''

The marathon world record-holder added: "Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy."

Wanjiru had marked himself out as a major talent as a teenager and broke the world half-marathon record in Rotterdam in 2005 aged only 18. He became the first Kenyan to win Olympic marathon gold in Beijing three years later, setting a new Games record of two hours six minutes and 32 seconds.

In 2009 he set a then course record to win the London Marathon in 2hrs 05mins 10secs and became the fastest marathon runner ever on American soil in Chicago that October. Knee problems prevented him repeating his London triumph but he overcame illness to defend his title in Chicago last October.

Leading British distance runner Mo Farah said: "So sad to hear about Sammy Wanjiru. He was a legend and still so young."

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee said in a statement: "Sammy Wanjiru was an accomplished runner who will be remembered for winning the first Olympic gold medal for Kenya in marathon and setting a new Olympic record in the process. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

London Marathon race director Dave Bedford confirmed a tribute to the athlete he described as "the greatest marathon runner that we have ever seen in the world" is being planned.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "We will obviously think how we are going to honour the passing of a great champion. It's too early to say what we will do but without doubt we will seek something that's appropriate and lasting."