| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men’s athletics | ||
Representing  Kenya | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 2008 Beijing | 3000 m st. |
| World Championships | ||
 | 2009 Berlin | 3000 m st. |
| 2007 Osaka | 3000 m st. |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
 | 2010 Delhi | 3000 m st. |
| Continental Cup | ||
| 2010 Split | 3000 m st. |
Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (born 14 October 1983) is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metre steeplechase. He won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and he has two World Championship medals in the discipline.
He was born in Lenape village, near Narok town in 1983. He started running in 1998, while at high school. He graduated from Moi Amalo Secondary School in 2001 and then joined Kenya Police. In 2004 he finished fifth at the Kenyan Olympic trials, missing the Olympics but was selected for the African Championships, where he won a silver medal. [1]
Mainly competing on the European track and field circuit, he qualified for the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2004, 2005 and 2006, eventually winning a silver medal in the latter edition. His times continued to improve and his new personal best of 8:07.50 set in Rome made him the third fastest man that year. [2] The 2007 season marked a breakthrough for Mateelong as he reached the podium at his first World Championships by taking the bronze medal in the men's steeplechase race. He closed the year with a second consecutive silver at the World Athletics Final. [3]
He made a strong start to the 2008 season, becoming African steeplechase champion at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics. He went on to win his first ever Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics later that year, finishing behind compatriot Brimin Kipruto and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad in the Olympic final. He again managed to get in the medals at the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final and won bronze on that occasion. [3]
The 2009 World Championships in Athletics brought a new steeplechase best of 8:00.89 for Mateelong, and although he did not beat Ezekiel Kemboi it was enough to win his first silver medal at the global championship level. He competed at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final (the final edition of the competition) but failed to maintain his form and finished eighth. [3]
He ran in the Giro Media Blenio 10K in 2010 and finished in third place behind Moses Mosop and Imane Merga. [4]
At the Doha 2012 Diamond League meeting, Mateelong was second to compatriot Paul Koech in the steeplechase, in a new personal best time of 7:56.81. This makes Mateelong the eighth fastest man in history. He came fourth behind Abel Mutai at the Kenyan Olympic trials, however, meaning he did not gain selection for the Kenyan team. [5]
As of 2008 [update] , he lives in Nyeri and is married with one child. [1] He is managed by Gianni Demadonna. He is technically advised by Renato Canova.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Kenya | |||||
| 2004 | African Championships | Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo | 2nd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:26.34 |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 5th | 3000 m s'chase | ||
| 2005 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 10th | 3000 m s'chase | |
| 2006 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 2nd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:08.62 |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 3rd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:17.59 |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 2nd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:07.66 | |
| 2008 | African Championships | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1st | 3000 m s'chase | 8:31.68 |
| Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 3rd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:11.01 | |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 3rd | 3000 m s'chase | ||
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 2nd | 3000 m s'chase | 8:00.89 |
| World Athletics Final | Thessaloniki, Greece | 8th | 3000 m s'chase | 8:18.83 | |
| 2010 | World Cross Country Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 7th | Senior race | Individual |
| 1st | Senior race | Team | |||
| African Championships | Nairobi, Kenya | 1st | 3000 m s'chase | 8:23.54 | |
| Continental Cup | Split, Croatia | 1st | 3000 m s'chase | ||
| Commonwealth Games | New Delhi, India | 1st | 3000 m s'chase | 8:16.39 | |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 7th | 3000 m s'chase | 8:19.31 |
Ezekiel Kemboi Cheboi is a Kenyan professional athlete, winner of the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the 2009 World Championships, the 2011 World Championships, the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2013 World Championships and the 2015 World Championships. His 3000 m steeplechase best of 7:55.76 set at Monaco in 2011 places him as the sixth fastest of all time. This time is also the fastest non-winning time in history. He is one of only four men to have won both Olympic and World golds in the event, along with Reuben Kosgei, Brimin Kipruto and Conseslus Kipruto. He is the only multiple gold medalist in both. He is the only athlete to have won four world championships in the steeplechase, and only the second athlete to win two Olympic titles in the event.
Brimin Kipruto is a Kenyan professional middle distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He was born in Korkitony, Keiyo District. He holds a personal best of 7:53.64 minutes which is the second fastest time ever run, and the African Record. His personal best is only 0.01 of a second behind the world record of former county mate Saif Saaeed Shaheen, who switched national affiliation to Qatar after growing up as Stephen Cherono in the Keiyo District.
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