Flash Chat with Olympic Champion: Brimin Kiprop Kipruto

© 2008 The Runner's Tribe, all rights reserved.

Steeplechase running in Kenya is a matter of honour and pride, Kenya have dominated the event for decades. Right now, the man leading Kenya's charge and the new Olympic 3000m Steeplechase champion, is the one and only Brimin Kiprop Kipruto. Kipruto hails from Korkitony, a village in the Rift Valley, and trains with the Global Sports group in Kaptagat near Eldoret. Kipruto has an impressive range of talent finishing 11th at the 2006 World Cross-Country Championships (short course), and he has also run a 3:35.23 for 1500m.

RunnersTribe: Brimin, thanks for your time. Congratulations on your Steeplechase gold medal. How did you find the race? Were you surprised to see the Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-benadbbad beat your fellow countryman (Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong) home and get so close to beating you?

Brimin Kiprop Kipruto : The race was very fine, we tried to run as a team. In the final lap I felt very good and confident and after the last water barrier, I knew that with my kick I was able to win.

It is only good there is more competition coming in the steeple, so we welcome Mahiedine. Of course I am looking forward to having some tough battles with him in the future.

 2006 World Athletics Final

RT: The Steeplechase is an event that is dominated by the Kenyans, even the Ethiopians rarely challenge the Kenyan stranglehold over the event. Is there a reason in particular as to why you think this is the case?

BKK: The reason I think is tradition. The steeple has a long standing tradition and all these young athletes in Kenya are looking up to the athletes who won big successes in the steeple and they want to step in their footsteps. So more talent is going to the steeple as compared to Ethiopia.

RT: Your finishing kick was very strong, is this speed something that comes naturally to you? Or do you do a lot of speed work in training?

BKK: Both, I have natural speed, but of course I have to train for it like everybody else. I have a very good pb in the 1500m and at the World Junior Championships in 2004 I won the bronze medal in 1500m.

RT: So you plan to race in the World Athletics final?

BKK: For sure, Brussels and World Athletics Final.