Ezekiel Kemboi, the flamboyant athlete who won his fourth steeplechase world championship in a row last year, announced his retirement from athletics after being beaten by his fellow Kenyan and an upcoming American at the Rio Olympics.
“After 18 years I have done my best,” said 34-year-old Kemboi, who won gold at the Athens and London Games, but settled for bronze.
Conseslus Kipruto Kipruto shocked Kemboi, the two-time Olympic gold medallist to win the 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, but ensured that Kenya maintained its iron grip on the event it has won in every Games since 1984.
Kipruto, the world silver medallist, clocked a new Olympic record of 8:03.28 to win Kenya its fourth gold medal of the Games while USA’s fast-rising steeplechaser Evan Jager outpaced Kemboi on the homestretch to bag silver in 8:04.28.
The 21-year-old had long been touted as the young pretender to Kenya’s steeplechase crown but he produced a final lap sprint that saw him grab gold in an Olympic record of 8 minutes 3.28 seconds.
A winner of two silver world championship medals, Kipruto was so far ahead of his rivals that he started celebrating and waving to the crowd at the start of the final straight.
Evan Jager won a rare medal for the United States in the race – their first since 1984 – after overtaking Kenya’s double Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi in the last 50m to take silver.
Deputy President William Ruto said: “Gold. Bronze. A memorable day as Conseslus Kipruto wins gold in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase and sets a new Olympic Record at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Congratulations to Ezekiel Kemboi (Bronze). The fantastic win embodies our togetherness as a nation.”
[crp]
