Richard Chelimo

Richard Chelimo ( born February 27, 1972 in Chesubet, Marakwet District, † August 15 2001 in Eldoret ) was a Kenyan long-distance runner. He set a world record in the 10,000 meters.

In 1990 he became vice - world junior champion in cross country and world junior champion over 10,000 meters in front of his brother Ismael Kirui. The following year he was fourth on the long haul at the World Cross Country Championships in 1991 and won the 10,000 m silver at the IAAF World Championships in Tokyo.

He was fifth at the World Cross Country Championships in 1992 and won at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in the 10,000 meters silver medal in 27:47,72 min, with almost exactly one second behind the winner Khalid Skah (Morocco ).

The following year he applied to the DN Galan in Stockholm as only the third and fourth African non-Europeans ever set a world record in the 10,000 meters on. The best time of 27:07,91 min, however, was undercut five days later by his countryman Yobes Ondieki by more than nine seconds. About the same distance won Chelimmo shortly afterwards at the World Championships in Stuttgart bronze, his last great international success.

Chelimo came from the Kalenjin ethnic group. Many outstanding runners belonged to his family. His cousin Kiptanui was a three-time world champion in the steeplechase, and his brother Ismael Kirui was two -time world champion over 5,000 m.

In 2001, he died of a brain tumor.