Wilson Kipketer

Kenyan and Danish middle distance runner · Denmark · On the map · Athletes · Born 1972 · age 53

Wilson Kosgei Kipketer is a Danish former middle distance runner. With a personal best of 1:41.11, Kipketer is tied with Emmanuel Wanyonyi as the second fastest of all time over the 800 meter distance, behind David Rudisha. Kipketer set the world record and broke his own record two more times, all in 1997.

Wilson Kipketer is read about 47 times a day, in 33 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 110 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare Claim

A life in dates

2020“When you see athletes begin to understand that and progress, it brings a great sense of satisfaction.”In their words14 January 2020Next ChapterRead the whole statement

2008Danish Sports Hall of FameAward2000“That’s what happened in 2000, but then I tore my calf three weeks before the Sydney Olympics.”In their wordsRead the whole statement

1998“I had just come off an incredible season so in my mind, I was still the best athlete in the world. I won my first race back in August 1998, clocking 1:43 in Monaco.”In their wordsAugust 1998Read the whole statement

“After 1998 I decided it’s better to neutralise everything in the past and start from zero. That was crucial to the second part of my career.”In their wordsRead the whole statement

1997“In 1997, I won my second world title over 800m and ran five world records - three indoors, two outdoors - which earned me the title of Male World Athlete of the Year.”In their wordsRead the whole statement

“At the end of 1997 I went back to Kenya to spend Christmas with my parents but when I came back to Denmark, I was not feeling well.”In their wordsRead the whole statement

Danish Sports Name of the YearAward1972Born12 December 1972

People around Wilson

Close ties

Erica Jarder Also at Sparta Atletik

Also in Deutsch

Career 1

ClubYears

Sparta Atletik

Media & music

Photos 1

In their own words 4

Wilson Kipketer

4 statements, newest first

It’s why, when I look back on my career, coming back to win a third world title in 1999 may well be my biggest achievement.
1999, Own words
I didn’t know it at the time, but I would never be able to train the same way again. After 1997, if I did one hard week I needed one or two easy weeks to recover.
1997, Own words
For most athletes, it’s when they choose to retire or are forced into it. But for me, it happened long before. It happened when I was at my peak.
, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Danish Sports Hall of Fame2008

Danish Sports Name of the Year1997

About this person

He dominated the 800 m distance for a decade, remaining undefeated for a three-year period and running 8 of the 17 currently all-time fastest times. He won gold medals in three successive editions of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Though unable to compete in the 1996 Olympics near the peak of his career, he earned silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004. Kipketer's 800 meters world record stood for almost 13 years. It was surpassed on 22 August 2010, when David Rudisha beat it by 0.02 seconds, running 1:41.09. Kipketer held the short track world record in the 800 metres from 1997 until 2026.

Country

Denmark