Matthew Birir

Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Representing  Kenya
Olympic Games
	1992 Barcelona	3000 m steeplechase
World Junior Championships
	1990 Plovdiv	3000 m steeplechase
	1988 Sudbury	3000m steeplechase

Matthew Kiprotich Birir (born 5 July 1972) is a former athlete from Kenya, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Biography

Born in Eldama Ravine, Matthew Birir started running, when he attended the famous St. Patrick's High School in Iten, which has produced many great Kenyan runners.^{[citation needed]}

Career

At the Barcelona Olympics, the main favourite was Patrick Sang. At the Olympic final, it was soon clear, that all the medals are going to Kenya. At the last lap, the 20-year-old Birir outsprinted his older countryman Sang to win a gold 0.69 seconds ahead of latter.

At the 1993 World Championships Birir was fourth, behind Italian Alessandro Lambruschini, who repeated this feat three years later at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where Birir had to settle again for fourth place.