Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad in 2012
Personal information
Born (1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 39)
Reims, France
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
CountryFrance
SportMiddle-distance running
Event(s)1000 metres, 1500 m, 3000 m, 2000 m steeplechase, 3000 m steeplechase
Retired2023
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • 1500 m: 3:33.12 (Tomblaine 2013)
  • 2000 m steeplechase: 5:10.68 WB (Reims 2010)
  • 3000 m steeplechase: 8:00.09 AR (Paris 2013)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  France
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing 3000 m st.
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 3000 m st.
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 3000 m st.
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Daegu 3000 m st.
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Moscow 3000 m st.
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Barcelona 3000 m st.
Gold medal – first place 2012 Helsinki 3000 m st.
Gold medal – first place 2014 Zürich 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Amsterdam 3000 m st.
Gold medal – first place 2018 Berlin 3000 m st.
European Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Gothenburg 1500 m
Continental Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Split 3000 m st.
European U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Debrecen 3000 m st.

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (born 15 March 1985) is a retired French professional middle-distance runner of Algerian descent who mainly competed in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He is the only man to win three Olympic steeplechase medals, claiming silver in 2008 and 2012 and bronze in 2016. He also won two bronze medals at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in 2011 and 2013. Mekhissi-Benabbad earned titles at five consecutive editions of the European Athletics Championships between 2010 and 2018 (including one 1500 metres title).

He has gained notoriety for pushing the event's mascot after winning the 3000 m steeplechase finals at the 2010 and 2012 European Championships.[1][2][3] Mekhissi-Benabbad is the European record holder for the 3000 m steeplechase, set in 2013, and also holds the world best in the 2000 m steeplechase, set in 2010.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference il-20120701 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Unsporting: runner wins, then shoves mascot". The Age. July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference euros-20110722 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Five-time European champion Mekhissi announces his retirement at the age of 37". European Athletics. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.