Kenyan great Kipchoge Keino wins inaugural Olympic Laurel award

Among all the stunning moments at the Rio 2016 opening ceremony, few were as moving as the recognition that iconic Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino received late in the evening.

Keino, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was bestowed with the first-ever Olympic Laurel award by IOC president Thomas Bach, an honor that recognizes "an outstanding individual for their achievements in education, culture, development, and peace through sport."

The 76-year-old, who won gold in both 1968 in Mexico City (1500m) and 1972 in Munich (3000m steeplechase) undertook a host of philanthropic endeavors after hanging up his spiked kicks.

Upon retiring from competition in 1973, he opened a children's home that now houses some 100 Kenyan orphans. Keino, who fought back tears while making a touching speech upon claiming the award on Friday, also opened a school bearing his name in 1999 that offers an education to Kenyan youth who were otherwise lacking schooling options.

"We come into this world with nothing ... and depart this world with nothing ... it's what we contribute to the community that is our legacy," he said ahead of receiving the award.

Chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, he opened the Kip Keino High Performance Training Centre in 2002, which helps train some of his homeland's most promising athletes.