Richard CHELIMO

In 1992, Richard Chelimo was briefly Olympic Champion, but he never received a gold medal. A silver medallist at the 1991 World Championships, he fought a long battle with Moroccan Khalid Skah. Skah won the duel, but only after another Moroccan runner, Hammou Boutayeb had interfered with Chelimo several times when they lapped him. Although he declined accusations of unfair teamwork, winner Skah was disqualified shortly after the finish. A Moroccan appeal proved successful, as the IAAF rules did not provide for a case like this, and the board of appeal overturned the disqualification. Skah and Chelimo received their medals amidst boos of the Barcelona crowd, and the IAAF amended the regulations to prevent a repeat of the incident. The next year, Chelimo broke the 10,000 metres World Record in July 1993, but lost it to a compatriot five days later. At the 1993 World Championships, he finished third, his last major international result. He died young, of a brain tumour.

Personal Best: 10000 – 27:07.91 (1993).