This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On November 7, 2019, the International Athletics Film Festival (FICA) in San Sebastian, Spain, paid tribute to the achievements of Kenyan distance running icon Paul Tergat.
As a five-time world cross country champion and former 10,000m and marathon world record holder, Tergat was a popular figure in the Basque region during his competitive career in the 1990s.
Now 50 and a member of the International Olympic Committee, Tergat received a Honorary Achilles Prize from the Festival organisers for his contribution to the sport.
"It's a big honour to be recognised in this way and this honour is very special to me," Tergat commented.
He added, "I hope this type of event (FICA) will continue for many years. To see the film of my cross country victories, as well as my defeats on the track at the Olympics, brings it all back to me even though it was 20 years ago, and more. But it's important to keep these memories for our children and grandchildren."
During the ceremony, Tergat was also presented with a ceremonial inscribed Basque beret – a txapela – a traditional gift in the area.
His presentation followed a two-minute visual review of his greatest races on what was deemed 'IAAF Day' at the Festival.
Other notable winners at the festival included Spain's Mario Casado, who won the IAAF competition for U23 filmmakers with his short film 'Why I Run', and Portugal's Paulo Guerra, who was featured in the 30-minute film 'Hunters' with footage recorded at the World Cross Country Championships Aarhus 2019.
