Christopher Koskei

Last updated

Christopher Koskei
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1999 Sevilla 3000 m steeplechase
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1995 Gothenburg 3000 m steeplechase

Christopher Koskei (also written Kosgei, born 14 August 1974) is a Kenyan runner who specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He became known when he, running barefoot, won the silver medal at 1995 World Championships. After that performance, he was not able to improve his PB, having problems in his training in 1996 and 1997. In 1998 he ran only 8:48 minutes, and decided to stop running.

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But at the beginning of October 1998, he met in Iten the Italian coach Renato Canova, in Kenya for the first time together with his manager Gianni Demadonna. After a long talk, he decided to try again, following the new plan from the Italian Coach.

He was able to rebuild his shape, managing a very busy season (with 14 competitions), with the most important peak in the World Championships of Seville, when he became World Champion, four years after the silver in Gothenburg.

He is the elder brother of the current world record holder Stephen Cherono (Saif Saaeed Shaheen), who followed the same coach. Koskei has another brother, Abraham, who likewise follows the family tradition of steeplechasing.

International competitions

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
1993 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2nd Junior race 20:20
1stJunior team10 pts
African Championships Durban, South Africa2nd3000 m steeplechase8:24.58
1995 World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden2nd 3000 m steeplechase
1999 World Championships Seville, Spain1st 3000 m steeplechase
All-Africa Games Johannesburg, South Africa3rd 3000 m steeplechase
Military World Games Zagreb, Croatia3rd3000 m steeplechase

Personal bests

See also