Steeplechase at the Olympics
The steeplechase event is one of the 24 events that are contested as a part of the track and field disciple in the Olympics. Although the steeplechase was first introduced at the Olympics in 1900, it was run over 2400m and 4000m. The event was held for different distances in subsequent Olympics, till the modern 3000m distance for men was introduced at the Olympics in 1920. A women's event was added to the program very recently, in 2008.
The men's event has recently been dominated by athletes from Kenya, which have won the gold medal in the last eight consecutive Olympics including a podium sweep in 1992 and 2004. Volmari Iso-Hollo of Finland and Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya are the only two men to have won the gold medal twice. In the recent history of the women's event, Russia has taken the lead winning the gold medal in 2008 and 2012.
As of March 2016, the current Olympic record of 8:05.51 for the men's event is held by Julius Kariuki of Kenya, which was set during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. For the women's event, the record is 8:58.81, which is also the current world record, set by Gulnara Galkina-Samitova of Russia during the 2008 Beijing Games.
Trivia
- The steeplechasers at the 1932 Games had to run an extra lap on top of their normal 7.5 when an official lost count.
Related Pages
- long distance running events at the Olympics
- Middle Distance running events at the Olympics
- discontinued steeplechase events at the Olympic Games (1900-1912)
- About Track and Field at the Olympics
- The Greatest T&F Athletes at the Olympics.
- List of Olympic Sports
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Current Events