# Isaac Kimeli

Isaac Kimeli (born 9 March 1994 in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya) is a Kenyan born Belgian middle- and long-distance runner.
Kimeli won one Diamond League meeting, securing victory in the 5000 m at the 2019 Memorial Van Damme in Brussels (promotional event) with a personal best of 13:13.02.

## Training and personal life

When Kimeli was four years old, his mother migrated from their home county of Uasin Gishu in Kenya to Belgium to work as a nurse. Kimeli was left in the care of his grand-parents for ten years. At age 15 he was finally reunited with this mother in Belgium. It was there that his PE teachers encouraged him to join a track club.

## Career

In 2011, Kimeli competed in his first international competition at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon, Turkey.
Two years later, Kimeli won his first international medal by winning a silver at the junior 2013 European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. This was soon followed by a gold medal at the Under-23 2016 European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Italy, and 2 silver medals (one individual, one team) and a bronze at the senior level 2018, 2019 and 2022 European Cross Country Championships resp. He picked up another silver medal with the Belgium men's team at the 2024 European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
On the track, Kimeli earned a silver in the 5000 metres at the 2015 European Athletics U23 Championships and in the 3000 metres at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Kimeli represented Belgium at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan resp. Paris, France, his best result a 8th place in the final of the men's 5000 metres in Paris.

## Achievements
### Competition record

Representing  Belgium :
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
| 2011 | European Youth Olympic Festival | Trabzon, Turkey | 9th | 1500 m | 3:58.80 |
| 2012 | European Cross Country Championships | Szentendre, Hungary | 6th | XC 6.025 km U20 | 19:00 |
| 2013 | World Cross Country Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 30th | XC 8 km U20 | 23:15 |
| 2013 | European Cross Country Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 2nd | XC 6.025 km U20 | 17:51 |
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 19th (h) | 1500 m | 3:41.96 |
| 2014 | European Cross Country Championships | Samokov, Bulgaria | 20th | XC 7.782 km U23 | 26:20 |
| 2015 | European U23 Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:54.33 |
| 2015 | European Cross Country Championships | Hyères, France | 38th | XC 8.087 km U23 | 24:27 |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 9th | 1500 m | 3:47.92 |
| 2016 | European Cross Country Championships | Chia, Italy | 1st | XC 7.97 km U23 | 22:48 |
| 2017 | World Cross Country Championships | Kampala, Uganda | – | XC 9.858 km | DNF |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 15th (h) | 1500 m | 3:42.77 |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | – (f) | 5000 m | DQ |
| 2018 | European Cross Country Championships | Tilburg, Netherlands | 2nd | XC 10.3 km | 28:52 |
| 2019 | European Team Championships First League | Sandnes, Norway | 1st | 3000 m | 8:09.09 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 18th (sf) | 1500 m | 3:37.50 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 14th | 5000 m | 13:44.29 |
| 2019 | European Cross Country Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 7th | XC 10.3 km | 30:46 |
| 2019 | European Cross Country Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 2nd | Team | 38 pts |
| 2021 | European Indoor Championships | Toruń, Poland | 2nd | 3000 m | 7:49.41 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 32nd (h) | 5000 m | 13:57.36 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 18th | 10,000 m | 28:31.91 |
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | – (f) | 3000 m | DNS |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, OR, United States | 10th | 10,000 m | 27:43.50 SB |
| 2022 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 11th | 5000 m | 13:33.39 |
| 2022 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | – (f) | 10,000 m | DNF |
| 2022 | European Cross Country Championships | Turin, Italy | 3rd | XC 9.572 km | 29:45 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 13th | 10,000 m | 28:20.77 |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | 14th | 10,000 m | 28:17.84 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 11th (h) | 5,000 m | 13:19.25 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 8th (f) | 5,000 m | 13:18.10 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 19th (f) | 10,000 m | 27:51.52 |

### National titles

* Belgian Athletics Championships
** 1500 metres: 2014
* Belgian Indoor Athletics Championships
** 3000 metres: 2022
* Belgian Cross Country Championships
** 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2023, 2024

### Personal bests

* 1500 metres – 3:36.51 (Marseille 2018)
* 3000 metres – 7:47.48 (Rome 2020)
** 3000 metres indoor – 7:44.17 (Ghent 2021)
* 5000 metres – 12:56.53 (Stockholm 2024)
* 10,000 metres – 27:07.97 (San Juan Capistrano 2024)

#### Road

* 10 kilometres – 27:10 (Valencia 2025)