Moses Tanui
Kenyan long-distance runner
About Moses Tanui
Born 1965. Moses Tanui is a Kenyan marathon runner, long-distance runner and athletics competitor.
Moses Tanui (born 20 August 1965 in Sugoi, Nandi District, Kenya) is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10,000m at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo.
Biography At the 1993 World Championships in Athletics in Stuttgart he finished second after a controversial incident on the final lap in which he lost one shoe after the eventual winner Haile Gebrselassie stepped repeatedly, lap after lap as a race video reveals, upon Tanui's heels. He also won the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996 as well as the 102nd Boston Marathon in 1998. Tanui won the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 1995 and silver in the 1997 competition.
He was the first athlete to run a half marathon in less than one hour by running 59:47 in Milan on 3 April 1993. His record was broken five years later by fellow Kenyan Paul Tergat.
At the Chicago Marathon in 1999, Tanui helped spur Khalid Khannouchi to a new world record, eventually finishing 2nd in 2:06:16, which was a Kenyan national record and the third fastest marathon in history at that point.
He was still active in 2004 when he competed at the Seoul International Marathon. He retired later due to a knee injury. Today he operates a training camp in Kaptagat . Tanui has also initiated two of Eldoret's most prominent events, the Discovery Cross Country race, and the Eldoret City Marathon.
He was involved in a serious car accident near Nakuru in February 2010 suffering major injuries to his leg and chest. David Lelei, another former runner, was driving Tanui's car and died in the accident.
Achievements All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
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Important facts
People in Moses Tanui's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Moses Tanui's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Moses Tanui?
Kenyan long-distance runner
When was Moses Tanui born?
Moses Tanui was born on 20 August 1965 in Nandi County.
What is Moses Tanui's occupation?
Moses Tanui is a marathon runner, long-distance runner and athletics competitor.
What nationality is Moses Tanui?
Moses Tanui is Kenyan.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Moses Tanui. https://biography.guide/moses-tanui/
MLA: "Moses Tanui." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/moses-tanui/.
Chicago: "Moses Tanui." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/moses-tanui/.
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