Stephen Kiprotich facts for kids
Kiprotich at the Paris Half Marathon in 2014
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 27 February 1989 Kapchorwa District, Uganda |
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| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) (2012) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kilograms (123 lb) (2012) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Uganda | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Long-distance running | |||||||||||||||||||
| Team | NN Running Team | |||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals |
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| Personal best(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Gold
Stephen Kiprotich (born 27 February 1989) is a famous long-distance runner from Uganda. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics. He also won a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics. This made him only the second person ever to win both an Olympic marathon and a World Championship marathon.
Kiprotich became the 2012 Olympic champion with a winning time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 1 second. The race was held in hot and sunny weather. This was a very special win for Uganda. It was their first Olympic medal since 1996. It was also their first Olympic gold medal since 1972. And it was Uganda's first-ever medal in the marathon event.
Contents
Who is Stephen Kiprotich?
Stephen Kiprotich grew up in Kapchorwa District, near the border of Uganda and Kenya. He is the youngest of seven children. His parents were farmers who grew food to support their family.
Early Life and Training
When he was a child, Stephen missed three years of elementary school. This was because he had an illness that doctors could not figure out. From 2004 to 2006, he stopped running to focus on his studies.
At 17, he decided to leave school. He moved to Eldoret in Kenya. This area is known for its great runners. There, he trained for marathons with another famous runner, Eliud Kipchoge. A group called A Running Start, which helps athletes, also supported him.
Olympic Gold Medal Win
Stephen Kiprotich ran his fastest marathon time in 2011. He finished the Enschede Marathon in the Netherlands in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 20 seconds. This was a new record for that race. It also set a new national record for Uganda. In 2012, he placed third in the Tokyo Marathon.
Stephen was inspired by John Akii-Bua. John was the only Ugandan to win an Olympic gold medal before Stephen. John won the 400 metres hurdles in 1972.
Stephen then went on to win the London 2012 Olympic Marathon. He finished ahead of Kenyan runners Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich. After his big win, Stephen received an award. He was named the Nile Special-Uspa Sports Personality of the Year in Uganda.
World Championship Success
In 2013, Stephen continued his winning streak. He won the IAAF Moscow 2013 Marathon. His winning time was 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 51 seconds. This earned him another gold medal.
Other Major Races
The year after his World Championship win, Stephen ran in the New York City Marathon. He finished the race in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 25 seconds. In February 2015, he set a new personal best time in the marathon. He finished second at the Tokyo Marathon in 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 33 seconds.
Stephen competed in his second Olympic marathon in 2016. This was at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. As the defending champion, he finished 14th. The race was won by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge.
In 2017, Stephen represented Uganda at the World Cross Country Championships. He finished 17th in that race. He also placed second in both the Hamburg Marathon and Fukuoka Marathon that year.
He continued to compete in major marathons. In 2018, he ran in the Hamburg Marathon and Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2019, he finished third in the Hamburg Marathon. He also represented Uganda at the 2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar.
In April 2021, Stephen ran the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede. He finished fifth and was the first Ugandan runner to cross the finish line. Stephen Kiprotich was part of the Ugandan team for the men's marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Life Beyond the Track
In 2015, Stephen Kiprotich appeared in a Ugandan film. The movie was called SIPI the movie.
Training and Team
Stephen Kiprotich is a member of the NN Running Team. He trains in Kapchorwa, Uganda.
See also
In Spanish: Stephen Kiprotich para niños
