Wilson Boit Kipketer

Wilson Boit Kipketer (born 6 October 1973 in Kenya) is a middle and long distance athlete most widely known for running the 3000 m steeplechase. On 13 August 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. Boit Kipketer's record only stood for 11 days before it was crushed by Bernard Barmasai who took almost 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.

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 6 May 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.

Major achievements (3000 m steeplechase) 1997 1997 World Championships in Athletics - Athens, Greece. gold medal World Record - Zürich, Switzerland 7 minutes 59.08 seconds 1999 1999 World Championships in Athletics - Seville, Spain silver medal 1999 All-Africa Games - Johannesburg, South Africa. silver medal 2000 2000 Summer Olympics - Sydney, Australia. silver medal 2002 2002 IAAF World Cup gold medal 2002 African Championships - Tunis, Tunisia. silver medal