Reigning Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya died overnight after falling from the second floor of his home in the town of Nyahururu, police said Monday.

"He fell from the balcony of his home after a row with his wife. We found him lying on the verandah with a broken skull," a police officer in the region Jasper Ombati said.

"He died soon after being taken to hospital," he added.