Vivian Cheruiyot

Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, a long-distance runner from Kenya, set an Olympic record in the 5,000 metres during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Across a career spanning multiple decades, she earned titles at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League, while representing her country at the 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Early Career and Breakthrough

Born in 1983, Cheruiyot began her athletic trajectory in 1999. At fifteen, she secured a junior silver medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and a bronze in the 3,000 metres at the World Youth Championships in Athletics. Her senior competitive debut followed at the 1999 All-Africa Games, where she earned a bronze in the 5,000 metres.

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Dominance in Middle and Long Distance

Cheruiyot established herself as a consistent global competitor, taking silver at the 2007 World Championships. She claimed her first world title in the 5,000 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Her 2011 season included gold medals in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres at the World Championships, as well as a victory at the World Cross Country Championships. She is a three-time Diamond League trophy winner, securing titles in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Olympic and Marathon Achievements

At the 2012 London Olympics, Cheruiyot earned a silver medal in the 5,000 metres and a bronze in the 10,000 metres. She reached her Olympic peak at the 2016 Rio Games, winning gold in the 5,000 metres and silver in the 10,000 metres. Transitioning to longer road distances, she won the 2018 London Marathon with a time of 2:18:31 and placed second at the 2018 New York City Marathon.