Bernard Lagat

Bernard Lagat
Lagat in 2011
Personal information
Full nameBernard Kipchirchir Lagat
NationalityKenyan-American
BornDecember 12, 1974 (1974-12-12) (age 49)
Kapsabet, Kenya
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight59 kg (130 lb)[1]
Sport
Country United States
 Kenya
SportAthletics/Track, Long-distance running
Event800 mMarathon
College teamWashington State Cougars
ClubNike
Turned pro1998
Coached byJames Li
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2000 Sydney
1500 m,  Bronze
2004 Athens
1500 m,  Silver
2008 Beijing
1500 m, 12th
5000 m, 9th
2012 London
5000 m, 4th
2016 Rio de Janeiro
5000 m, 5th
World finals2001 Edmonton
1500 m,  Silver
2007 Osaka
1500 m,  Gold
5000 m,  Gold
2009 Berlin
1500 m,  Bronze
5000 m,  Silver
2011 Daegu
5000 m,  Silver
2013 Moscow
5000 m, 6th
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 0 1 1
World Championships 2 3 1
World Indoor Championships 3 2 0
Continental Cup 2 0 1
Universiade 1 0 0
Total 8 5 3
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney 1500 m
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2001 Edmonton 1500 m
World Indoor Championships
Silver medal – second place 2003 Birmingham 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 2004 Budapest 3000 m
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2002 Madrid 1500 m
Representing  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Osaka 1500 m
Gold medal – first place 2007 Osaka 5000 m
Silver medal – second place 2009 Berlin 5000 m
Silver medal – second place 2011 Daegu 5000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Berlin 1500 m
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Doha 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 2012 Istanbul 3000 m
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sopot 3000 m
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2010 Split 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 2010 Split 5000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Marrakech 3000 m

Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat (born December 12, 1974) is a Kenyan-American former middle and long-distance runner.

Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya. Prior to his change of domicile to the US, Lagat had an extensive competitive career representing his native country.

With his personal best of 3:26.34, Lagat is the Kenyan record holder at 1500 m outdoors, and is the second fastest 1500 m runner of all time, behind Hicham El Guerrouj. After becoming an American citizen, he broke American records in several events, including the 1500 m, mile, 3000 m, and 5000 m.

Lagat is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 games, and is a thirteen-time medalist in World Championships and Olympics including five gold medals. At the age of 41, he finished 5th in the finals of the 5000 m at the Rio Olympics.[2]

Lagat's long-term coach is James Li of the University of Arizona, with whom he has worked for over a decade.[3] Today, Lagat is the head cross country coach and an assistant track and field coach at the University of Arizona.[4]

  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bernard Lagat". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "IAAF: 5000 Metres Result | The XXXI Olympic Games | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "For Bernard Lagat's Coach of 20 Years, Tears of Joy". Runner's World. July 10, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bernard Lagat - Track and Field Coach". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved November 1, 2024.