Robert KEMPAINEN

Bob Kempainen ran the marathon for the United States at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. His only major marathon win was the 1996 US Olympic Trials, but he finished second at the 1993 New York City Marathon, the 1995 Los Angeles Marathon, and the 1991 Twin Cities Marathon. Kempainen’s 1996 Olympic Trials victory was remarkable as he stopped and vomited twice during the last two miles of the race. He was also 1990 USA cross-country champion. His best marathon time of 2-08:47 came in finishing seventh at the 1994 Boston Marathon.

Kempainen attended Dartmouth, graduating in 1988, and then entered medical school at the University of Minnesota. He did his residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota, followed by a fellowship in pulmonology and critical care medicine at the University of Washington. He later joined the medical staff at the University of Minnesota, where he practices pulmonology and critical care medicine.

Personal Best: Marathon – 2-08:47 (1994).