Matthew Birir
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men’s athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1992 Barcelona | 3000 m steeplechase | |
Matthew Kiprotich Birir (born July 2, 1972) is a former athlete from Kenya, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Born in Eldama Ravine, Matthew Birir started running, when he attended at the famous St. Patrick's High School in Iten, where many great Kenyan runners are rosen.
At the Barcelona Olympics, the main favourite was Patrick Sang. At the Olympic final, it was soon clear, that all the medals are going to Kenya. At the last lap, the 20-year-old Birir outsprinted his older countryman Sang to win a gold 0.69 seconds ahead of latter.
At the 1993 World Championships Birir was beaten to fourth by Italian Alessandro Lambruschini, who repeated this feat three years later at the 1996 Summer Olympics, so Birir had to settle again with fourth place.
| Olympic champions in men's 3000 m steeplechase |
|---|
| 1900 (2500 m): George Orton | 1900 (4000 m): John Rimmer | 1904 (2590 m): Jim Lightbody | 1908 (3200 m): Arthur Russell | 1920: Percy Hodge | 1924: Ville Ritola | 1928: Toivo Loukola | 1932: Volmari Iso-Hollo | 1936: Volmari Iso-Hollo | 1948: Tore Sjöstrand | 1952: Horace Ashenfelter | 1956: Chris Brasher | 1960: Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak | 1964: Gaston Roelants | 1968: Amos Biwott | 1972: Kip Keino | 1976: Anders Gärderud | 1980: Bronisław Malinowski | 1984: Julius Korir | 1988: Julius Kariuki | 1992: Matthew Birir | 1996: Joseph Keter | 2000: Reuben Kosgei | 2004: Ezekiel Kemboi |
