Wilson Boit Kipketer

Wilson Boit Kipketer (born October 6, 1973 in Kenya) is a middle and long distance athlete most widely known for running the 3000 m steeplechase. On August 13, 1997, at the Weltklasse Zürich, he set the world record in the steeplechase at 7:59.08, the third of three world records set in a 70-minute period of time. He was second individual after Moses Kiptanui to run under eight minutes.[1] Boit Kipketer's record only stood for 11 days before it was crushed by Bernard Barmasai who took almost 3 and a half seconds off the mark. A week earlier, Boit Kipketer led a Kenyan sweep of the same race in the 1997 World Championships, edging out Barmasai and then world record holder, three-time defending champion Kiptanui. He came back two years later to claim a silver medal in the 1999 World Championships and the following year in the 2000 Olympics.

Wilson Boit Kipketer
Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
2000 Sydney 3000 m steeplechase
World Championships
1997 Athens3000 m steeplechase
1999 Seville3000 m steeplechase

He was born into a large family, one of twelve children.

In 2003, during an immigration clampdown by the Swedish authorities, Boit Kipketer was refused permission to run in Stockholm where the event organisers had lined him up as one of the main attractions, because he did not have the required visa.

He planned to debut in marathon at the Düsseldorf Marathon on May 6, 2007.

He is not related to Wilson Kipketer, the 800 m runner who represented Denmark and was also part of the three world records set in 70 minutes in Zurich. Both attended St. Patrick's High School at the same time.

Politics

After his competitive career, Kipketer went into local politics as a member of the county assembly of the Kabiemit Ward.[2]

Major achievements

(3000 m steeplechase)

References

  1. "IAAF: 3000 Metres Steeplechase - men - senior - outdoor | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  2. Komen, Jonathan (2011-06-27). "Kenya: Boit At Ease in Politics As He Used to Be On Track". The Nation (Nairobi). Retrieved 2018-04-20.
Records
Preceded by
Moses Kiptanui
Men's steeplechase world record holder
13–24 August 1997
Succeeded by
Bernard Barmasai


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