Julius KARIUKI

Julius Kariuki’s athletic career started slowly. He made his international début at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he finished seventh in the 3,000 m steeplechase. The following year, Kariuki won the steeplechase at the African Championships, and then followed that up with a victory in a slow race at the IAAF World Cup. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Kariuki was considered the third-string Kenyan runner, but in the final, Kariuki and his teammate Peter Koech broke clear, and a lap later, Kariuki sped away to win the gold medal.

In 1989, Kariuki won the 10,000 m at the Universiade and defended his steeplechase title at the World Cup. In 1990, he won gold easily at the Commonwealth Games and finished fourth at the 1981 World Championships. Kariuki remained one of the world’s top steeplechasers for several more years, but due to the dominant Kenyan steeplechasers, he never again competed at a major international.

Personal Best: 3000S – 8:05.51 (1988).