Exclusive: Is Kenya’s 3,000m Steeplechase Losing its Edge? Legendary Matthew Birir Weighs in

The history of Kenyan athletics would be incomplete without mentioning the Kenyan-born legends who have brought the country so much glory by dominating major 3000m steeplechase international events.

Kenya did not compete in the 1976 and 1978 Olympics due to political reasons. Twenty-nine countries, including Kenya, boycotted the games due to the refusal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban New Zealand after the New Zealand national rugby union team had toured apartheid South Africa earlier in 1976.

History of Kenya at the Olympics

Despite not participating in the two Olympic editions, from 1968 up to 2012, Kenya won 21 of the 30 medals available, with a clean sweep of gold medals. These medals have not been won by one or two individuals but by nine different men.

In 1968, Amos Biwott set the ball rolling, winning the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Biwott was the first of the many Kenyan runners to dominate the 3,000-metre steeplechase. His surprising win at the Mexico City Olympics presaged Kenyan dominance in distance running.

He had not only run three steeplechase races before the Olympics, and his technique was ungainly at best, but he was also the first man to have the courage not to place one foot on the barrier, as well as finish the race with completely dry feet.

After this golden moment, Biwott’s athletics career went slowly downward. He finished third at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, sixth at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and finished his career with an eighth place at the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

At the 1972 Munchen Olympics, legendary athlete Kipchoge Keino defied the odds to claim a gold medal, while Biwott came in sixth. In 1984, after the boycott, Kenya came back with a bang, with Julius Korir setting a new world record to kickstart the momentum.

Julius Kariuki went home with gold in the Seoul 1988 Olympics, while Matthew Birir emerged victorious in the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. It was in that event that the Kenyans swept the podium and hurdled to celebrate the sweet moment together.

Their fine form continued, and in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Joseph Keter outclassed the strong contingent to come out victorious. Reuben Kosgei dominated the Sydney 2000 Olympics; Ezekiel Kemboi won two golds in the Athens 2004 Olympics and the London 2012 Olympics; and Brimin Kipruto carried the day in the Beljing 2008 Olympics.

Where Did the Rain Start Beating Us?

The country would then relinquish its 3000m steeplechase world title at the World Championships (July 2022) in Oregon after Olympic champion Soufine El Bakkali dethroned Conseslus Kipruto in the men's title, while Celliphine Chespol faded to 13th place.

During the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, El Bakkali reigned supreme, winning the title in 8:03:53 as Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwott and Leornard Kipkemoi Bett came in second and third in 8:11:98 and 8:12:26 respectively. Simon Kiprop Koech faded to seventh place in 8:14:37.

In the women’s category, Kenyan-born Bahranian Winfred Yavi won in 8:54:29, with Beatrice Chepkoech and youngster Faith Cherotich claiming second and third places in 8:58:98 and 9:00:69 respectively.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Cherotich improved to silver after clocking 8:55:15 to defeat Chepkoech who completed the podium in 9:04:24. Yavi won the classy final in 8:52:76. In the men’s category, Kibiwott could only manage a podium finish in 8:06:47 while Koech faded to seventh place in 8:09:26.

The standards of the country's once stronghold are now worrying, even as the Tokyo 2025 World Championships fast approaches.

Matthew Birir Weighs in

SportsBoom.com caught up with 1992 Barcelona Olympics champion Matthew Birir who believes that the issue boils down to one main factor: discipline. While Kenya has no shortage of talent, today’s athletes lack the dedication needed to sustain their careers.

"The difference between then and now is discipline. Without discipline, people are allowing their money to lead them. They need to lead their wealth, and not the other way around. When you live a crazy life, even if you are a champion, you cannot last. For instance, I lasted for over 20 years.

The former athlete further pointed to a lack of structured training as another factor contributing to the recent decline. During his time, athletes followed rigorous training schedules that included cross country and indoor sessions to build endurance and resilience across the entire season. Athletes today often skip these foundational training blocks.

“We are not going through training sessions; cross country/indoor until the end of the season,” he explained.

Recovery, according to Birir, is just as essential as training. Skipping recovery not only puts athletes at risk of burnout but also shortens their competitive lifespan, according to Birir.

“After the end of the season, you have to have a recovery period. Some athletes are training from January to January so there is no recovery. If you do not recover, it means that it will affect your performance,” he offered.

A significant issue, Birir noted, is the trend of young athletes abandoning the track in favor of lucrative road racing. In previous decades, only older, more mature athletes ventured into marathon races.

“When you see us losing in some events, people are crossing over to road racing while they are young,” he observed. “Nowadays, athletes run for money,” Birir stated bluntly. “They are only interested in places where there is money. It is no longer an issue guiding the athletes through the process. They want the quick money.”

This shift in motivation, he explained, diverts focus away from athletic development and pushes younger runners toward unsustainable training practices, ultimately compromising their longevity in the sport.

Advise to Athletes

Birir is taking steps to reverse this trend. On Saturday 16 November, during the Chemususu Dam Half Marathon in Baringo, he plans to establish a forum to counsel athletes on sustainable career management, financial planning, and discipline.