Meb Keflezighi
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| Olympic medalist | |||
 Meb Keflezighi |
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| Medal record | |||
| Men's Athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 2004 | Marathon | |
Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi (Ge'ez: መብራህቶም ክፍልእዝጊ mebrāhtōm kifl'igzī, Tigrinya "their lamp, part of the Lord"; born May 5, 1975 in Asmara, Eritrea province, Ethiopia, modern Eritrea) is an American athlete specializing in long distance running, especially marathons. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to USA. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998.
In the 2004 Summer Olympics, Meb finished second in the men's marathon, winning a silver medal in a personal season's best time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds. Keflezighi finished 42 seconds ahead of Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, who was leading the marathon until he was pushed off the course by protester Cornelius Horan. This was the first medal won by an American man in the Olympic marathon since Frank Shorter won the silver medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal.
His fastest times for some standard distances are 3:42.29 for 1,500 meters, set in 1998; 13:11.77 for 5,000 meters, set in 2000; 27:13.98 for 10,000 meters, set in 2001 (a still-standing American record); and 2:09:53 for the marathon, set in 2004 at the New York City Marathon, where he finished second.
Keflezighi trains in Mammoth Lakes, California during the summer and in San Diego during the winter.
[edit] External links
- Meb Keflezighi's Official Website: Meb Keflezighi
- USA Track and Field: Mebrahtom Keflezighi
- Runner's World: Meb Keflezighi - Runner's World
- Ultimate Guide to Boston Marathon: Meb Keflezighi prepares to run first Boston Marathon
- Vyuz San Diego: San Diego marathoner aims for win in Boston
- Meb Keflezighi's U.S. Olympic Team bio
[edit] Video Interviews
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Categories: 1975 births | Living people | Long-distance runners | American track and field athletes | Eritrean athletes | Olympic competitors for Eritrea | Athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics | Olympic competitors for the United States | Refugees | Naturalized citizens of the United States | United States track and field athletics biography stubs | Eritrean people stubs
