Wilson Kiprotich Kenyan athlete, long-distance runner (from 10 kilometers to marathon). Date of Birth: 15.03.1982 Country: Kenya

1. Biography of Wilson Kiprotich
2. Early Life and Career
3. International Success
4. Continued Success
5. Olympic and Further Achievements

Biography of Wilson Kiprotich

Kenyan athlete Wilson Kiprotich is a long-distance runner, specializing in races ranging from 10 kilometers to marathons. Despite the daunting challenges of the marathon distance, Kiprotich faces them fearlessly, showcasing impressive results.

Early Life and Career

Wilson Kiprotich was born in Kenya and initially represented the Kenyan police in local running competitions. He achieved success by winning the 10-kilometer Tegla Loroupe Peace Race.

International Success

In 2007, Kiprotich gained international recognition by securing the second place in the Tilburg Ten Miles race in Tilburg, Netherlands, with a time of 46:27. He followed this with a victory in the Hem race, also in the Netherlands, completing the 10-kilometer distance in 27:51, the fourth-best time of the year.

In 2008, Kiprotich finished second again in the Tilburg race, only two seconds behind Abiyote Guta. He also participated in the Delhi Half Marathon, where he battled Ethiopian runner Deriba Merga until the very end, finishing just one second behind him. This second-place finish improved his personal record and marked the third-best result in the half marathon that year.

Continued Success

In 2009, Kiprotich started the year strong by winning the Egmond Half Marathon in freezing conditions. He also performed well in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, the World's Best 10K, and the Berlin Half Marathon, securing third place in all three races. However, he finished fourth in the World 10K and the IAAF Half Marathon later that year.

In 2010, Kiprotich made his marathon debut in Paris, finishing third, only 30 seconds behind the winner, Ethiopian runner Tadesse Tola. He then achieved a significant victory in the Frankfurt Marathon, beating Tola by a minute and setting the eighth-best time in marathon history. He defended his title in Frankfurt the following year, solidifying his status as a top marathon runner.

Olympic and Further Achievements

In 2012, Kiprotich placed third in the RAK Half Marathon before winning the London Marathon. He then represented Kenya in the Olympic Games, finishing third in the men's marathon event. Shortly after, he claimed victory in the Great North Run and the Honolulu Marathon.

In 2013, Kiprotich continued his successful performances. He won the New York Half Marathon and was considered a favorite in the London Marathon, where he finished fifth. He secured second place in the Great Manchester Run but faced disappointment with a fifth-place finish in the Bogota Half Marathon. However, he bounced back by winning the Berlin Marathon and setting a new world record with a time of 2:03:23, 15 seconds faster than the previous record held by Patrick Makau.

Kiprotich's determination and belief in his abilities indicate that he is set to achieve even more impressive results in the future.