# Timothy Cheruiyot

Timothy Cheruiyot (born 20 November 1995) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specialising in the 1500 metres. He is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the event and the 11th fastest athlete all time over the distance. At the World Athletics Championships, Cheruiyot won the silver medal in 2017 in London, and a gold in 2019 in Doha.
He took the silver medal in his specialty event at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, and is also a two-time African Championship silver medallist from 2016 and 2018. Cheruiyot won the 1500 m Diamond League title on four occasions: in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

## Personal life & career

Cheruiyot is from the town of Singorwet, in Bomet County, Kenya, and lives on a farm with his family. Beginning in 2014, he began to train in the outskirts of Nairobi, via the Rongai Athletics Club, under Coach Bernard Ouma.

### Early Career: 2015-2018
#### 2015

Cheruiyot's first major milestone in his career was competing on Kenya's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team at the 2015 IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas. Team Kenya's goal was to improve on their existing DMR world record of 9:15.56 set back in 2006, but the new world record ended up going to the United States, in a time of 9:15.50, while Kenya finished second in a time of 9:17.20. Cheruiyot anchored this DMR (1600m leg) against the United States' Ben Blankenship.
Cheruiyot would have a rematch against Blankenship three weeks later at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, in the men's International Mile. Blankenship won in a time of 3:55.72, while Cheruiyot finished 3rd in a time of 3:55.80.
Cheruiyot then switched attention to the 1500 m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. Here, he made it through the rounds and took 7th place in the final in a time of 3:36.05.

#### 2016

In 2016, Cheruiyot won the 1500 m at the Rabat Diamond League, in a personal best time of 3:33.61. He also took a silver medal in the 1500m at the African Championships in Durban (3:39.71), and finished 2nd in the Emsley Carr Mile (3:53.17) at the Anniversary Games in London.
However, despite his successes, Cheruiyot took 4th place in the 1500 m final at the Kenyan Olympic Trials and was therefore unable to represent Kenya at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Although disappointed by not making Kenya's Olympic Team, Cheruiyot had another breakthrough by winning the 1500 m at the Brussels Diamond League, in a personal best time of 3:31.34.

#### 2017: World Silver Medallist & First Diamond League Title

On 18 June, Cheruiyot won the 1500 m at the Stockholm Diamond League in a new personal best of 3:30.77. He followed it up by finishing second at the Kenyan World Championship Trials, qualifying him for the 2017 World Championships in London. On 21 July, Cheruiyot finished second at the Monaco Diamond League in 3:29.10, his first time under the 3:30-barrier.
At the aforementioned World Championships, Cheruiyot won the silver medal, finishing behind compatriot Elijah Manangoi. In his final race of the season, Cheruiyot won at the Diamond League Final in a time of 3:33.93.

#### 2018

At the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast, Cheruiyot claimed the silver medal in the 1500 m. On 12 May, he won the Shanghai Diamond League in a time of 3:31.48. He continued his good form by winning the mile at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:49.87. He went on to win at the Monaco Diamond League on 20 July, running 3:28.41 - a time which would be the world lead for the 2018 season. Cheruiyot won at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, in a time of 3:30.27.
At the end of the season, Cheruiyot was nominated for World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year.

### 2019: World Champion

On 30 June, Cheruiyot won the mile at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:50.49. He also won over 1500 m at the Laussane and Monaco Diamond Leagues in 3:28.77 and 3:29.97, respectively. On 22 August, Cheruiyot won the 800 m at the Kenyan National Championships, in a time of 1:43.11, his first time under the 1:44-barrier. He then won over 1500 m at the Kenyan World Championship Trials on 13 September to secure his place at the World Championships in Doha. At the World Championships, Cheruiyot won gold in the 1500 m. In a "superb display of dominance", he won by 2.12 s, the largest winning margin in World Championship 1500 m history.

### 2020-2021: Covid Pandemic and Olympic Silver Medal

After the COVID-19 Pandemic disrupted the 2020 season, Cheruiyot was forced to compete less frequently. He won the Kenyan race over 2000 m at the Impossible Games, beating Elijah Manangoi. However, he lost the overall race to "Team Ingebrigtsen" who were competing in Oslo. He set the world lead for the 2020 season at the Monaco Diamond League, running 3:28.47.
In 2021, Cheruiyot opened his season by winning the Doha Diamond League in 3:30.48. He finished a shock fourth at the Kenyan Olympic Trials, failing to qualify for the Olympics. However, he was allowed to compete as second-placer Kamar Etyang was barred for participating due to not meeting anti-doping rules. He recovered from his upset to win at the Stockholm Diamond League in 3:32.40. He also picked up the win at the Monaco Diamond League, setting a new personal best of 3:28.28.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Cheruiyot won silver in the 1500 m. Cheruiyot led for the majority of the race, however was overtaken by Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the final turn. He held off the fast-finishing Josh Kerr who took bronze. He ended his season by winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a time of 3:31.27.

### 2022: Commonwealth silver medal

Cheruiyot began his 2022 season with a 2nd-placed finish at the Doha Diamond League and a 3rd placed finished over the mile at the Prefontaine Classic. He finished second at the Kenyan World Championship Trials to qualify for the 2022 World Championships, where he finished sixth in a season's best of 3:30.69.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Cheruiyot won the silver medal behind Ollie Hoare in a time of 3:30.21. He was unable to win his fifth successive Diamond League title as he finished second at the Diamond League Final on 8 September.

### 2023

Cheruiyot opened his 2023 season with a 3,000 m race at the Doha Diamond League, finishing 5th in a time of 7:36.72. He returned to winning ways over 1500 m at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, running 3:31.47. On 15 June, Cheruiyot competed at the Oslo Diamond League, running a season's best of 3:29.08 to finish fourth. After winning the Kenyan World Championship Trials in a sprint finish, Cheruiyot was named in the team for the World Championships.
At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Cheruiyot was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1500 m. After the Championships, he revealed he had been struggling with a knee injury and would miss the rest of the season.

### 2024

On 10 May, Cheruiyot competed at the Doha Diamond League, finishing second as part of a Kenyan 1-2-3 alongside Brian Komen and Reynold Cheruiyot, in a time of 3:32.67. At the Oslo Diamond League on 30 May, Cheruiyot finished second, being narrowly pipped on the line by a diving Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in a season's best of 3:29.77. At the Kenyan Olympic Trials, Cheruiyot finished third in the 1500 m to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In July, He once again finished second behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the Monaco Diamond League, running a season's best of 3:28.71.
At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Cheruiyot finished 11th in the 1500 m, having tried to go with the early pace he faded badly over the last lap. He recovered from his disappointment to win over 800 m at the Grand Prix Lombardia in Brescia and finish second over 1500 m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
In November, Cheruiyot expressed his desire to retire from the 1500 m after the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and transition to long-distance running and marathons.

## Achievements
### International competitions

Representing  Kenya :
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| 2015 | IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | 2nd | Distance medley relay | 9:17.20 |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 7th | 1500 m | 3:36.05 |
| 2016 | African Championships | Durban, South Africa | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:39.71 |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:33.99 |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:35.17 |
| 2018 | African Championships | Asaba, Nigeria | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:35.93 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 1st | 1500 m | 3:29.26 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:29.01 |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | 6th | 1500 m | 3:30.69 |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:30.21 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 23rd (sf) | 1500 m | 3:37.40 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 11th | 1500 m | 3:31.35 |

### Diamond League wins and titles

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Nike ||||||
| 2016 | Meeting de Rabat | Rabat, Morocco | 1st | 1500m | 3:33.61 |
| 2016 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels, Belgium | 1st | 1500m | 3:31.34 |
| 2017 | BAUHAUS-galan | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | 1500m | 3:30.77 |
| 2017 | Weltklasse Zürich | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 1500m | 3:31.34 |
| 2018 | Diamond League Shanghai | Shanghai, China | 1st | 1500m | 3:31.48 |
| 2018 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene, United States | 1st | One Mile | 3:49.87 |
| 2018 | Golden Gala | Rome, Italy | 1st | 1500m | 3:31.22 |
| 2018 | Meeting de Paris | Paris, France | 1st | 1500m | 3:29.71 |
| 2018 | Herculis | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 1500m | 3:28.41 |
| 2018 | Weltklasse Zürich | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 1500m | 3:30.27 |
| 2019 | BAUHAUS-galan | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | 1500m | 3:32.47 |
| 2019 | Prefontaine Classic | Eugene, United States | 1st | One Mile | 3:50.49 |
| 2019 | Athletissima | Lausanne, Switzerland | 1st | 1500m | 3:28.77 |
| 2019 | Herculis | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 1500m | 3:29.97 |
| 2019 | Memorial Van Damme | Brussels, Belgium | 1st | 1500m | 3:30.22 |
| 2020 | Herculis | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 1500m | 3:28.45 |
| 2020 | BAUHAUS-galan | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | 1500m | 3:35.79 |
| 2021 | Doha Diamond League | Doha, Qatar | 1st | 1500m | 3:30.48 |
| 2021 | BAUHAUS-galan | Stockholm, Sweden | 1st | 1500m | 3:32.30 |
| 2021 | Herculis | Monaco, Monaco | 1st | 1500m | 3:28.28 |
| 2021 | Weltklasse Zürich | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 1500m | 3:31.37 |

### National championships

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Nike ||||||
| 2014 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 7th | 800 m | 1:47.32 |
| 2014 | Kenyan Junior Championships | Nairobi | 3rd | 800 m | 1:45.92 |
| 2015 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:39.25 |
| 2015 | Kenyan World Championship Trials | Nairobi | 5th | 1500 m | 3:34.86 |
| 2016 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:37.04 |
| 2016 | Kenyan Olympic Trials | Eldoret | 4th | 1500 m | 3:39.30 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 1st | 1500 m | 3:41.0 |
| 2017 | Kenyan World Championship Trials | Nairobi | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:31.05 |
| 2018 | Kenyan Commonwealth Games Trials | Nairobi | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.84 |
| 2018 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.82 |
| 2019 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 1st | 800 m | 1:43.11 |
| 2019 | Kenyan World Championship Trials | Nairobi | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.91 |
| 2021 | Kenyan Olympic Trials | Nairobi | 4th | 1500m | 3:34.62 |
| 2022 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 6th | 1500m | 3:37.81 |
| 2022 | Kenyan Commonwealth Games / World Championships Trials | Nairobi | 2nd | 1500m | 3:34.59 |
| 2023 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 3rd | 800m | 1:45.10 |
| 2023 | Kenyan World Championship Trials | Nairobi | 1st | 1500m | 3:34.01 |
| 2024 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 3rd | 800m | 1:45.65 |
| 2024 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 4th | 1500m | 3:40.23 |
| 2024 | Kenyan Olympic Trials | Nairobi | 3rd | 1500m | 3:35.90 |

## Personal bests and World Rankings
### Personal bests

* 800 metres – 1:43.11 (Nairobi 2019)
* 1500 metres – 3:28.28 (Monaco 2021)
* One mile – 3:49.64 (Eugene 2017)
* 2000 metres – 5:03.05 (Nairobi 2020)
* 3000 metres – 7:36.72 (Doha 2023)
* 5000 metres – 13:47.2 (Nairobi 2020)

### Progression

| Year | Time | Event | Location | Day |
| 2015 | 3:34.86 | Kenyan World Championship Trials | Nairobi, Kenya | August 1 |
| 2016 | 3:31.34 | Brussels Diamond League Meeting | Brussels, Belgium | September 9 |
| 2017 | 3:29.10 | Monaco Diamond League Meeting | Monaco, Monaco | July 21 |
| 2018 | 3:28.41 | Monaco Diamond League Meeting | Monaco, Monaco | July 20 |
| 2019 | 3:28.77 | Lausanne Diamond League Meeting | Lausanne, Switzerland | July 5 |
| 2020 | 3:28.45 | Monaco Diamond League Meeting | Monaco, Monaco | August 14 |
| 2021 | 3:28.28 | Monaco Diamond League Meeting | Monaco, Monaco | July 9 |
| 2022 | 3:30.21 | 2022 Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | August 6 |
| 2023 | 3:29.08 | Oslo Diamond League Meeting | Oslo, Norway | June 15 |
| 2024 | 3:28.71 | Monaco Diamond League Meeting | Monaco, Monaco | July 12 |

### World Rankings

| Year | Rank |
| 2016 | 6th |
| 2017 | 2nd |
| 2018 | 1st |
| 2019 | 1st |
| 2020 | N/A |
| 2021 | 2nd |
| 2022 | 3rd |