Stephen Kiprotich is a famous Ugandan long-distance runner who rose to international fame as the 2012 Olympic marathon champion.
His remarkable victory in London, where he finished in 2:08:01, not only won him the gold medal but also marked a pivotal moment in the sport’s history. Uganda, is the country’s first Olympic gold medal winner in the marathon and its first Olympic medal. medal since 1996.
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- Full name: Stephen Kiprotich
- Date of birth: February 27, 1989
- Age: 35 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Kapchorwa District, Uganda
- Nationality: Uganda
- Occupation: Long distance runner
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
- Parents: Not applicable
- Siblings: Six siblings
- Spouse: Patricia Cherop
- Children: Three children
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Not applicable
- Ethnicity: Not applicable
- Net worth: 1 million USD
Early life and education
Stephen Kiprotich is 35 years old and was born on February 27, 1989 in Kapchorwa district, Uganda. He was the youngest of seven children born to subsistence farmers.
His early life was marked by challenges, including missing three years of elementary school because of an undiagnosed illness. This failure did not discourage him; however, he eventually moved to Eldoret, Kenya at the age of 17 to pursue his running career under the guidance of renowned coach Eliud Kipchoge.
Kiprotich’s training began after he left school to focus on athletics. He attended local schools in Uganda but did not complete his formal university education due to election commitments. His journey reflects his dedication to becoming a world-class athlete.
Personal life
Stephen Kiprotich is married to Patricia Cherop and they have three children together:
- Eliud Musao: born in 2011
- Esther Chebet: Born in 2008
- Elizabeth Chelangat: Born on June 14, 2013, Elizabeth is affectionately known as the ‘Olympic baby’ because she was born 10 months after Kiprotich won the gold medal at the London Olympics. Tragically, she passed away from breathing difficulties when she was just 19 months old.
Career
Kiprotich’s long-distance running career began after he moved to Kenya to train. He soon achieved important milestones, including setting a personal best of 2:07:20 at the 2011 Enschede Marathon.
His breakthrough came at the London Olympics in 2012 when he won a gold medal, followed by another gold medal at the World Championships in Moscow in 2013.
Over the years, he has participated in many marathons around the world and consistently performed well, including finishing second at various prestigious events such as the Tokyo Marathon and Hamburg Marathon. Kiprotich is known for his strong competitive spirit and has represented Uganda at many Olympic Games and World Championships.
Prize
- Olympic Marathon Gold Medal 2012 – London
- 2013 World Championship Marathon Gold Medal – Moscow
- Special Sports Personality of the Year Award 2012 at Nile-Uspa – Uganda
Net worth
Stephen Kiprotich’s estimated net worth is approximately $1 million. His wealth mainly comes from his successful career as a professional athlete, including prize money from marathons and sponsorship deals with various athletics-related brands. .
Argumentative
Stephen Kiprotich has faced a number of controversies throughout his career, particularly regarding allegations related to doping in athletics.
Although he himself was never directly implicated in any doping scandal, there have been wider discussions about performance-enhancing drugs affecting athletes from East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda. These discussions often overshadow the legitimate achievements of athletes like Kiprotich.
In addition to the doping allegations, there were also rumors regarding his training methods and relationships with several coaches known for their controversial practices.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @stephen_kiprotich
- Twitter name: @Kiprotich_Stephen
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