Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (born 15 June 1995)[1] is a Kenyan middle-distance runner. He is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and 2022 World champion in the 800 metres. Korir won the silver medal in the event at the 2018 African Championships in Athletics.

Emmanuel Korir
Personal information
Full nameEmmanuel Kipkurui Korir
Born (1995-06-15) 15 June 1995 (age 29)
Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya
Sport
CountryKenya
SportTrack and field
Event400 m800 metres
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 800 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Eugene 800 m
Diamond League
First place 2018 800 m
First place 2021 800 m
First place 2022 800 m
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Asaba 4×400 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2018 Asaba 800 m
Representing Africa
Continental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Ostrava 800 m

As of November 2022 he was ranked as the sixth fastest athlete of all time over the 800 m, with a personal best of 1:42.05.[2] Korir is a three-time Diamond League champion at the event.

Career

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In 2013, athletics coach Brother Colm O’Connell, who was also based in Iten in Kenya, convinced Emmanuel Korir to switch from shorter sprints to the 400 metres.

After 1:46.94 run in the finals of the 2016 Kenyan Championships, he was offered a scholarship at the University of Texas in El Paso, Texas in the USA.[3] While at UTEP Miners, he was coached by the Olympic 800 m champion Paul Ereng.[4]

In January 2017, Korir set an indoor world record for the 600 metres.[5] The same year, he left the UTEP for a professional running contract with Nike, Inc.[6]

In 2017 and 2019, he failed to make the 800 metres finals at the World Athletics Championships, securing the silver medal in the event at the 2018 African Championships in Athletics.[1]

Korir qualified to represent Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,[7] where he won the gold medal in the 800 m event with a time of 1:45.06.[8]

He completed the Olympic-world double at the 2022 World Athletics Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, claiming 800 m title in a season's best of 1:43.71.[9][10] At the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham the following month, he was disqualified for a lane infringement in the men's 400 metres heats.[11]

His current residence is El Paso, Texas.[8]

Achievements

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International competitions

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Representing   Kenya
Year Competition Venue Position Event Result
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 8th (sf) 800 m 1:46.08
2018 African Championships Asaba, Nigeria 2nd 800 m 1:45.65
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:00.92
Continental Cup Ostrava, Czech Republic 1st 800 m 1:46.50
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 6th 400 m 44.94
8th (sf) 800 m 1:45.19
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 400 m DQ
1st 800 m 1:45.06
2022 World Championships Eugene, OR, United States 1st 800 m 1:43.71
Commonwealth Games Birmingham, United Kingdom 400 m DQ
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 29th (h) 800 m 1:46.78

Circuit wins and titles

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800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses

National and NCAA championships

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Personal bests

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Emmanuel Kipkurui KORIR – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  2. ^ "All time Top lists – 800 m Men – World Outdoors | until 2022-11-15". World Athletics. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  3. ^ Watta, Evelyn (2022-11-18). "Emmanuel Korir on nearly quitting track, losing crucial support and his comeback at the worlds". Olympics.com. IOC. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  4. ^ Bloomquist, Bret (2017-05-12). "How did UTEP land world class runner Emmanuel Korir?". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  5. ^ "UTEP Freshman Emmanuel Korir Just Broke A World Record". 21 January 2017.
  6. ^ Zahn, Jennifer (2017-08-19). "Emmanuel Korir Goes Pro, Signs With Nike". FloTrack. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  7. ^ "Former UTEP national champions Korir and Saruni qualify for Kenyan Olympic team; Amusan, Okagbare headed to Tokyo for Nigeria". KTSM 9 News. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  8. ^ a b "Emmanuel Korir wins men's 800m title in Kenyan 1-2". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  9. ^ "Emmanuel Korir Adds World 800m Title to Olympic Crown". LetsRun.com. 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  10. ^ Phillips, Mitch (2022-07-24). "Masterful Korir wins world 800m gold in style". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  11. ^ "Korir disqualified for lane infringement as Mweresa advances to 400m semi in Birmingham". Michezo Afrika. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
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