| Index: > A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|
|||||
Born in Eldama Ravine, Kenya , 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 Partick 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 medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's steeplechase |
| 2500 m steeplechase: George Orton | 2590 m steeplechase: Jim Lightbody | 3200 m steeplechase: Arthur Russell |
| 4000 m steeplechase: John Rimmer |
| 3000 m steeplechase: Percy Hodge | Ville Ritola | Toivo Loukola | Volmari Iso-Hollo (twice) | Tore Sjöstrand | Horace Ashenfelter | Chris Brasher | Zdzislaw Krzyszowiak | Gaston Roelants | Amos Biwott | Kipchoge Keino | Anders Gärderud | Bronislaw Malinowski | Julius Korir | Julius Kariuki | Matthew Birir | Joseph Keter | Reuben Kosgei | Ezekiel Kemboi |