Richard Mateelong

Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (born 14 October 1983) is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metre steeplechase. He won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and he has two World Championship medals in the discipline.

Richard Mateelong & Brahim Taleb during 2010 FBK games in Hengelo
Richard Mateelong
Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2008 Beijing3000 m st.
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2009 Berlin3000 m st.
Bronze medal – third place2007 Osaka3000 m st.
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi3000 m st.
Continental Cup
Gold medal – first place2010 Split3000 m st.

Career

He was born in Lenape village, near Narok town in 1983. He started running in 1998, while at high school. He graduated from Moi Amalo Secondary School in 2001 and then joined Kenya Police. In 2004 he finished fifth at the Kenyan Olympic trials, missing the Olympics but was selected for the African Championships, where he won a silver medal.[1]

Mainly competing on the European track and field circuit, he qualified for the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2004, 2005 and 2006, eventually winning a silver medal in the latter edition. His times continued to improve and his new personal best of 8:07.50 set in Rome made him the third fastest man that year.[2] The 2007 season marked a breakthrough for Mateelong as he reached the podium at his first World Championships by taking the bronze medal in the men's steeplechase race. He closed the year with a second consecutive silver at the World Athletics Final.[3]

He made a strong start to the 2008 season, becoming African steeplechase champion at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics. He went on to win his first ever Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics later that year, finishing behind compatriot Brimin Kipruto and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad in the Olympic final. He again managed to get in the medals at the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final and won bronze on that occasion.[3]

The 2009 World Championships in Athletics brought a new steeplechase best of 8:00.89 for Mateelong, and although he did not beat Ezekiel Kemboi it was enough to win his first silver medal at the global championship level. He competed at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final (the final edition of the competition) but failed to maintain his form and finished eighth.[3]

He ran in the Giro Media Blenio 10K in 2010 and finished in third place behind Moses Mosop and Imane Merga.[4]

At the Doha 2012 Diamond League meeting, Mateelong was second to compatriot Paul Koech in the steeplechase, in a new personal best time of 7:56.81. This makes Mateelong the eighth fastest man in history. He came fourth behind Abel Mutai at the Kenyan Olympic trials, however, meaning he did not gain selection for the Kenyan team.[5]

As of 2008, he lives in Nyeri and is married with one child.[1] He is managed by Gianni Demadonna. He is technically advised by Renato Canova.

Achievements
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  Kenya
2004 African Championships Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:26.34
World Athletics Final Monte Carlo, Monaco 5th 3000 m s'chase
2005 World Athletics Final Monte Carlo, Monaco 10th 3000 m s'chase
2006 World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:08.62
2007 World Championships Osaka, Japan 3rd 3000 m s'chase 8:17.59
World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:07.66
2008 African Championships Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:31.68
Olympic Games Beijing, China 3rd 3000 m s'chase 8:11.01
World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany 3rd 3000 m s'chase
2009 World Championships Berlin, Germany 2nd 3000 m s'chase 8:00.89
World Athletics Final Thessaloniki, Greece 8th 3000 m s'chase 8:18.83
2010 World Cross Country Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland 7th Senior race Individual
1st Senior race Team
African Championships Nairobi, Kenya 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:23.54
Continental Cup Split, Croatia 1st 3000 m s'chase
Commonwealth Games New Delhi, India 1st 3000 m s'chase 8:16.39
2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea 7th 3000 m s'chase 8:19.31

Personal bests

References
  1. A Matelong journey
  2. 3000 Metres Steeplechase 2006. IAAF (2007-04-20). Retrieved on 2010-04-06.
  3. Mateelong Richard. IAAF. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  4. Sampaolo, Diego (6 April 2010). "Merga cruises to Dongio 10Km win". IAAF. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  5. Mutuota, Mutwiri (23 June 2012). "Rudisha runs 1:42.12 at altitude – Kenyan Olympic Trials". IAAF. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
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