View source for Ezekiel Kemboi

{{Short description|Kenyan steeplechase runner (born 1982)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name             = Ezekiel Kemboi
| image            = Ezekiel Kemboi Moscow 2013.jpg
| image_size       = <!-- Use only when absolutely necessary -->
| alt              = 
| caption          = <small>Kemboi at the [[2013 World Championships in Athletics]]</small>
| fullname         = Ezekiel Kemboi Yano<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web|title=Ezekiel Kemboi|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ke/ezekiel-kemboi-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417172928/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ke/ezekiel-kemboi-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|website=sports-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref>
| nationality      = Kenyan
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1982|5|25|df=y}}<ref name=sports-reference/>
| birth_place      = [[Matira]], [[Rift Valley Province]], [[Kenya]]<ref name=sports-reference/>
| height           = {{height|m=1.67}}<ref name=sports-reference/>
| weight           = {{convert|52|kg|lbs}}<ref name=sports-reference/>
| website          = 
| sport            = [[Track & field]]
| event            = [[3000 metres steeplechase]]
| show-medals      = yes
| medaltemplates   = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{KEN}}}}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]]|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu]]|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2013 World Championships in Athletics|2013 Moscow]]|[[2013 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|2015 Beijing]]|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 Paris]]|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]]|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka]]|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]]|[[Athletics at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]]|[[Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]]|[[Athletics at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m st.]]}}
| updated          = 24 August 2015
}}
'''Ezekiel Kemboi Cheboi''' (born 25 May 1982) is a Kenyan professional athlete, winner of the [[3000 metres steeplechase]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|2009 World Championships]], the [[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|2011 World Championships]], the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], the [[2013 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|2013 World Championships]] and the [[2015 World Championships in Athletics|2015 World Championships]]. His 3000&nbsp;m steeplechase best of 7:55.76 set at Monaco in 2011 places him as the seventh fastest of all time.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=0/sex=M/all=y/legal=A/disc=3KSC/detail.html 3000 Metres Steeplechase All Time]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 10 August 2010.</ref> This time is also the fastest non-winning time in history. He is one of only five men to have won both Olympic and World golds in the event, along with [[Reuben Kosgei]], [[Brimin Kipruto]], [[Conseslus Kipruto]] and [[Soufiane El Bakkali]]. He and El Bakkali are the only multiple gold medalists in both. He is the only athlete to have won four world championships in the steeplechase (which he won consecutively). He is one of only three athletes to have won two Olympic titles in the event; the other two being [[Volmari Iso-Hollo]] and Soufiane El Bakkali.

==Biography==
Born in [[Matira]], which is near [[Kapsowar]], [[Marakwet District]], Kemboi graduated from Kapsowar Boys Secondary School in 1999. He did not take up athletics until after he left school, but was spotted by [[Paul Ereng]] and won the [[African Junior Athletics Championships|African Junior Championships]] in 2001 despite falling.<ref name="focus">IAAF, 24 August 2004: [http://www.iaaf.org/news/athletes/newsid=26949.html Focus on Athletes – Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN)]</ref>

Kemboi became [[African Junior Championships in Athletics|African Junior Champion]] in 2001 and then in 2002, he finished second at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] behind compatriot [[Stephen Cherono]]. The same year Kemboi was originally fourth at the [[African Championships in Athletics]], but was later awarded bronze after the winner Moroccan [[Brahim Boulami]] received a [[Doping (sport)|doping]] suspension.

At the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 World Championships]], Kemboi had a gruelling battle with former teammate [[Saif Saeed Shaheen]] (formerly Stephen Cherono) who represented his new country [[Qatar]], before Shaheen pulled away from the exhausted Kemboi to win by less than a second. Kemboi won the gold medal at the [[Athletics at the 2003 All-Africa Games|2003 All-Africa Games]].

In the absence of Shaheen – the Kenyan Olympic Committee refused to waive the three-year eligibility delay for established athletes who switch nationalities – Kemboi rose to a main favourite status at the [[Athens]] Olympics. The race went very much according to form, with the three Kenyans Kemboi, [[Brimin Kipruto]] and [[Paul Kipsiele Koech]] pushing the pace from the second lap and soon leaving the rest of the field behind and Kemboi winning a gold medal 0.3 seconds ahead of Kipruto in a [[List of Olympic sweeps in Athletics|Kenyan sweep]].

In August 2005 he won a silver medal at the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]] again behind Shaheen, and in March 2006 he won the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]]. He finished second at the [[2006 African Championships in Athletics]], but was disqualified for improper hurdling.<ref name="focus"/> At the [[2007 World Championships in Athletics]] he won his third successive silver medal, this time losing to Kipruto.

Kemboi represented Kenya at the [[2008 Beijing Olympics]] but managed only seventh – his worst performance on the global stage. He rebounded with a win at the 2009 World Championships (his first world championship [[gold medal]]) after three successive silvers and took silver at the [[2010 African Championships in Athletics|2010 African Championships]] the following year behind 2008 bronze medalist [[Richard Mateelong]].

He took to the road races of Italy in August 2010, beating [[Peter Kimeli]] to the tape to win the [[Corribianco]] race in [[Bianco]],<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/WHM10/news/kind=100/newsid=57952.html Kemboi and Kalovics win Corribianco road race]. [[IAAF]] (8 August 2010). Retrieved on 2010-0*-10.</ref> then taking the honours at the 8.5-kilometre [[Amatrice-Configno]].<ref>[http://www.fidal.it/showquestion.php?fldAuto=12407&faq=65 Amatrice: vince Kemboi, 11° Baldini] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122213907/http://www.fidal.it/showquestion.php?fldAuto=12407&faq=65 |date=22 November 2010 }}. [[Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera|FIDAL]]. Retrieved on 28 August 2010.</ref>

He won the gold medal at the [[2011 World Championships in Athletics]] in Daegu, South Korea.

Kemboi won the [[gold medal]] for [[Kenya]] in the [[Steeplechase (athletics)|3000m Steeplechase]] in [[London 2012]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/london-olympics-2012/news/London-Olympics-Ezekiel-Kemboi-regains-steeplechase-gold/articleshow/15368772.cms|title=London Olympics: Ezekiel Kemboi regains steeplechase gold
 |access-date=6 August 2012 | work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/olympics/19141802 bbc.co.uk] Olympic athletics: Kemboi wins gold in 3,000m steeplechase</ref> Kemboi won in a time of eight minutes 18.56 seconds.

In 2013, Kemboi added his [[2013 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|third straight gold medal at the World Championships]]. In 2015, he took his fourth successive title at the [[2015 World Championships in Athletics]]. This was his seventh World medal, setting a record for any athlete, which would subsequently be surpassed by Chinese shot putter [[Gong Lijao]] in [[2023 World Athletics Championships|2023]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/american-ealey-successfully-defends-shot-put-crown-world-championships-2023-08-26/|title=American Ealey wins shot put gold again, Gong claims eighth successive medal|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=26 August 2023|access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref>

On 17 August 2016, he won a [[bronze medal]] for [[Kenya]] in the [[Steeplechase (athletics)|3000m Steeplechase]] in the [[Rio Olympics 2016]]. He then announced his retirement after the win.<ref>http://www.sportal.co.nz/article/news/rio-2016-two-time-olympic-champion-ezekiel-kemboi-announces-retirement/t2x7f4tnf0651502e6hrbwh3u {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828032959/http://www.sportal.co.nz/article/news/rio-2016-two-time-olympic-champion-ezekiel-kemboi-announces-retirement/t2x7f4tnf0651502e6hrbwh3u |date=28 August 2016 }} Kemboi Announces Retirement</ref><ref>http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/article/2000212396/ezekiel-kemboi-announces-retirement-after-bagging-bronze-for-kenya-at-the-rio-olympics Kemboi Announces Retirement</ref> Kemboi was later that day disqualified for stepping outside of the track.<ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/news/kemboi-disqualified-steeplechase-mekhissi-takes-bronze-203525982--oly.html Kemboi disqualified from steeplechase, Mekhissi takes bronze]</ref> An investigation into the incident was instigated when the French Olympic team complained that the runner had stepped out of the track after his final water jump during the race. The bronze medal was subsequently awarded to French runner [[Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://athletesofkenya.com/2016/08/17/ezekiel-kemboi-disqualified/|title=Kemboi Disqualified {{!}} Athletes of Kenya|last=Koech|first=B. M.|access-date=2016-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826201726/http://athletesofkenya.com/2016/08/17/ezekiel-kemboi-disqualified/|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  He announced his retirement immediately following the Olympic race, but rescinded that decision after learning of his disqualification.  He made one final attempt, making the finals at the [[2017 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|2017 World Championships]], where he finished a disappointing 11th place.

==Personal life==
Kemboi is managed by [[Enrico Dionisi]]. Since 2002 he has owned a {{convert|50|acre|ha|adj=on}} farm near [[Moi's Bridge]], [[Trans-Nzoia District]].<ref name="focus"/> He is married to Jane Kemboi with two sons. Since 2009 he has been coached by [[Moses Kiptanui]], who is also his neighbour.<ref>The Standard, 21 August 2009: [http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144022161&cid=39& Kemboi thanks family after golden triumph in Berlin]</ref>

His participation in the [[London 2012|2012 Olympics]] was initially put in doubt when he was charged with assault in June 2012, after a woman claimed he stabbed her after she refused his sexual advances.<ref>BBC, 28 June 2012: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18624697 Kenyan athlete Ezekiel Kemboi charged over stabbing]</ref>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
|2001
|[[2001 African Junior Athletics Championships|African Junior Championships]]
|[[Réduit (Mauritius)|Réduit]], Mauritius
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
|[[2002 Commonwealth Games results|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Manchester]], England
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|[[2002 African Championships in Athletics|African Championships]]
|[[Radès]], Tunisia
| 4th
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=3|2003
|[[Athletics at the 2003 All-Africa Games|All-Africa Games]]
|[[Abuja]], Nigeria
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Paris, France
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|[[2003 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="cc9966" | 3rd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metre steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|[[2004 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2005
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3,000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|[[2005 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2006
|[[2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Melbourne]], Australia
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|[[2006 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
| 5th
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|[[Athletics at the 2007 All-Africa Games|All-Africa Games]]
|[[Algiers]], Algeria
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|[[Athletics at the 2007 All-Africa Games – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m steeple]]
|-
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Osaka]], Japan
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Beijing, China
| 7th
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metre steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|[[2008 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Berlin]], Germany
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|3000 m s'chase]]
|-
|[[2009 IAAF World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Thessaloniki]], Greece
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2010
|[[2010 African Championships in Athletics|African Championships]]
|[[Nairobi]], Kenya
|bgcolor="silver" | 2nd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2011
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Daegu]], South Korea
|bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2012
|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|London, England
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2013
|[[2013 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Moscow, Russia
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2014
|[[2014 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Glasgow]], Scotland
|bgcolor="cc9966"| 3rd
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2015
|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|Beijing, China
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2016
|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|DQ
|3000 m s'chase
|-
|2017
|[[2017 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[London, United Kingdom]]
|11th
|3000 m s'chase
|}

==References==
{{wikinews|African Olympians and Paralympians prepare for their London odyssey}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{Kenyan Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 3000 m Steeplechase Men}}
{{Footer World Champions 3000 m steeplechase Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Steeple Men}}
{{Footer All-Africa Champions 3000 m Steeple Men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemboi, Ezekiel}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from Elgeyo-Marakwet County]]
[[Category:Kalenjin people]]
[[Category:Kenyan men middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Kenyan men steeplechase runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Kenya]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:African Games gold medalists for Kenya]]
[[Category:African Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:African Games athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2003 All-Africa Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2007 All-Africa Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:IAAF World Athletics Final winners]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics]]