How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

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.

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

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

International competitions

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

800 metres wins, other events specified in parentheses

National and NCAA championships

Personal bests

References

External links

Categories
Table of Contents