Timothy Cheruiyot, born in Bomet on 20 November 1995, is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who ranks as the 11th fastest athlete in history over the 1500 metres. A four-time Diamond League champion, he has secured medals at the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and Commonwealth Games throughout an active career that began in professional competition in 2015.
Early Competitive Breakthroughs
Cheruiyot launched his senior career in 2014 by training at the Rongai Athletics Club near Nairobi under coach Bernard Ouma. In 2015, he anchored the Kenyan distance medley relay team at the IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas. Later that year, he gained international experience by finishing seventh in the 1500 metres at the World Championships in Beijing. By 2016, his speed improved significantly as he clocked 3:31.34 at the Brussels Diamond League.
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The 2017 season marked a significant ascent for the athlete. After running his first sub-3:30 race at the Monaco Diamond League, he claimed silver at the World Championships in London. He followed this with a career-defining performance at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where he secured the gold medal in the 1500 metres with a winning margin of 2.12 seconds, the largest in the history of the event.
Olympic and Commonwealth Campaigns
After missing the 2016 Rio Olympics, Cheruiyot qualified for the Tokyo Games held in 2021. He earned a silver medal after leading for most of the final, narrowly finishing behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen. His Commonwealth Games record includes silver medals on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in Birmingham in 2022. He also maintained consistent excellence in the Diamond League, winning consecutive titles in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Injury and Recent Form
Following a demanding 2022 season, Cheruiyot focused on the 2023 calendar, which included a win at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. However, a knee injury hampered his performance at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where he faced elimination in the semi-finals. He returned to competition in 2024, finishing second at the Doha Diamond League.
Fast facts
- Born: 20 November 1995, Bomet, Kenya
- Primary event: 1500 metres
- Olympic medal: Silver, 2020 Tokyo Games
- World Championship title: Gold, 2019 Doha
- Diamond League titles: Four (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- Coach: Bernard Ouma
- Club: Rongai Athletics Club
- Personal best 1500m: 3:28.28
Questions readers ask
How many times did Timothy Cheruiyot win the Diamond League 1500m title?
He won the Diamond League title four times, specifically in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Did Timothy Cheruiyot compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics?
No, he finished fourth at the Kenyan Olympic Trials that year and did not qualify.
