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Isaac Kimeli - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Isaac Kimeli

Kimeli in 2013

Personal information

Nationality

Kenyan-Belgian

Born

9 March 1994 (age 31)

Uasin Gishu County, Kenya^[1]

Height

1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Weight

59 kg (130 lb)^[1]

Spouse

Jelien Wouters

Sport

Country

Belgium

Sport

Athletics

Event(s)

Middle-, Long-distance running

Coached by

Tim Moriau (–2024)^[2]
Ivo Roelandt (2024-)^[3]

Medal record

Men's athletics

Representing Belgium
World Athletics Championships
	2025 Tokyo	5000 m
European Running Championships
	2025 Brussels	10000 m
European Indoor Championships
	2021 Toruń	3000 m
European U23 Championships
	2015 Tallinn	5000 m
European Cross Country Championships
	2016 Chia	U23 men
	2013 Belgrade	Junior men
	2018 Tilburg	Senior men
	2019 Lisbon	Senior team
	2024 Antalya	Senior team
	2022 Turin	Senior men

Isaac Kimeli (born 9 March 1994^[4] in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya) is a Kenyan born Belgian middle- and long-distance runner.

Kimeli is a 5000m silver medal winner at the World Athletics Championships.^[5]

Kimeli won two Diamond League meetings, securing victory in the 5000 m at the 2019 Memorial Van Damme in Brussels (promotional event) with a then personal best of 13:13.02 ^[4] and six years later at the very rainy 2025 Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland also in the 5000m.^[6]

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 his mother in Belgium. It was there that his PE teachers encouraged him to join a track club.^[7]

Career

In 2011, Kimeli competed in his first international competition at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon, Turkey.^[7]

Two years later, Kimeli won his first international medal by winning a silver at the junior 2013 European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.^[8] This was soon followed by a gold medal at the Under-23 2016 European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Italy,^[9] and 2 silver medals (one individual, one team) and a bronze at the senior level 2018,^[10] 2019^[11] and 2022 European Cross Country Championships^[12] resp. He picked up another silver medal with the Belgium men's team at the 2024 European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

In September 2025 at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kimeli became the first Belgian athlete since Gaston Reiff won the gold medal in the men's 5000 metres at the 1948 Summer Olympics to win a medal in a 5000m or 10000m event at a senior world athletics championship or Olympic Games.^[5]

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
	European Championships	Berlin, Germany	– (f)	5000 m	DQ
	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
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	18th (sf)	1500 m	3:37.50
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	14th	5000 m	13:44.29
	European Cross Country Championships	Lisbon, Portugal	7th	XC 10.3 km	30:46
	European Cross Country Championships	Lisbon, Portugal	2nd	Team	38 pts
2021	European Indoor Championships	Toruń, Poland	2nd	3000 m	7:49.41
	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	32nd (h)	5000 m	13:57.36
	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	18th	10,000 m	28:31.91
2022	World Indoor Championships	Belgrade, Serbia	– (f)	3000 m	DNS
	World Championships	Eugene, OR, United States	10th	10,000 m	27:43.50 SB
	European Championships	Munich, Germany	11th	5000 m	13:33.39
	European Championships	Munich, Germany	– (f)	10,000 m	DNF
	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
	Olympic Games	Paris, France	11th (h)	5,000 m	13:19.25
			8th (f)	5,000 m	13:18.10
			19th (f)	10,000 m	27:51.52
2025	European Running Championships	Brussels-Leuven, Belgium	3rd	10,000 m	27:58
2025	World Championships	Tokyo, Japan	2nd	5000 m	12:58.78

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)

References

^ ^a ^b "Isaac Kimeli Palmares". Vlaamse Atletiek Liga (in Dutch). Vlaamse Atletiek Liga. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ "Isaac Kimeli liep naar 4e plaats op EK zonder coach: "Hij heeft me zelfs geen berichtje meer gestuurd"" [Isaac Kimeli finished 4th at the European Championships without a coach: "He didn't even send me a message anymore"]. Sporza (in Dutch). 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
^ "Stiekeme veldritfan Isaac Kimeli prikt doelen met nieuwe coach: "Hij bezit de heilige drievuldigheid"" [Secret cyclocross fan Isaac Kimeli sets goals with new coach: "He possesses the holy trinity"]. Sporza (in Dutch). 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Isaac KIMELI – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Kimeli and Gressier win 5000m silver and bronze as Ingebrigtsen fades". European Athletics. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
^ "A rainy but epic 50th edition". Diamond League. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
^ ^a ^b "From not speaking the language to competing for the national team at Tokyo 2020, Belgian runner Isaac Kimeli is aiming for gold". CNN. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Third time lucky for Duarte at European Cross as Bezabeh regains title". World Athletics. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Kimeli strikes gold as Italy claim team title". European Athletics Association. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "ISAAC KIMELI RUNS HIS WAY TO A EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL". www.focusonbelgium.be. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Can retains title while Fsiha breaks through at European Cross in Lisbon". World Athletics. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Norwegian double as Ingebrigtsen and Grovdal retain European cross titles". World Athletics. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
^ "Ingebrigtsen wins third senior title in dominant style in Antalya 2024". European Athletics. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
^ "Kimeli doet er nog een Belgische medaille bij op EK indoor: zilver op 3.000 meter" (in Dutch). Sporza. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
^ "Isaac Kimeli imponeert met 8e plaats op de 5.000 meter: "Ik had het zelf niet verwacht"" (in Dutch). Sporza. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isaac Kimeli.

v t e Golden Spike Award
Men's winners	1954: Lucien De Muynck 1955: Walter Herssens 1956: Roger Moens 1957: Henri Haest 1958: Roger Verheuen 1959: Edouard Szostak 1960: Gaston Roelants 1961: Georges Salmon 1962: Aureel Vandendriessche 1963: Paul Coppejans 1964: Eugene Allonsius 1965: Leo Mariën 1966: André Dehertoghe 1967: Roger Lespagnard 1968: Willy Polleunis 1969: Philippe Housiaux 1970: Miel Puttemans 1971: Freddy Herbrand 1972: Karel Lismont 1973: Régis Ghesquière 1974: Marc Smet 1975: Bruno Brokken 1976: Ivo Van Damme 1977: Patrick Desruelles & Elie Van Vlierberghe 1978: Fons Brydenbach 1979: Ronald Desruelles 1980: Leon Schots 1981: Eddy Annys 1982: Alex Hagelsteens 1983: Jean-Marc Jacques & Jan Van Hocht 1984: William Van Dijck 1985: Marc Borra 1986: Vincent Rousseau 1987: Didier Falise 1988: William Van Dijck 1989: Godfried Dejonckheere 1990: Patrick Stevens 1991: Godfried Dejonckheere 1992: William Van Dijck 1993–94: Vincent Rousseau 1995–96: Patrick Stevens 1997: Mohammed Mourhit 1998: Jonathan Nsenga 1999–2001: Mohammed Mourhit 2002–03: Cédric Van Branteghem 2004: Joeri Jansen 2005: François Gourmet 2006: Kristof Beyens 2007: Hans Van Alphen 2008: Kevin Borlée 2009: Jonathan Borlée 2010–11: Kevin Borlée 2012: Hans Van Alphen 2013: Jonathan Borlée 2014: Thomas Van der Plaetsen 2015: Philip Milanov 2016: Thomas Van der Plaetsen 2017: Philip Milanov 2018: Koen Naert 2019: Bashir Abdi 2020: not awarded 2021-24: Bashir Abdi
Women's winners	1974: Sonja Castelein 1975: Hilde Van Dyck 1976: Bernadette Van Roy 1977: Anne-Marie Pira 1978: Lea Alaerts 1979: Chris Soetewey 1980: Magda Ilands 1981: Françoise Van Poelvoorde 1982: Anne Michel 1983: Chris Van Landschoot 1984: Marie-Christine Deurbroeck 1985: Jacqueline Hautenauve 1986: Lieve Slegers 1987: Hilde Vervaet 1988: Sylvia Dethier 1989: Véronique Collard 1990: Lieve Slegers 1991: Sylvia Dethier 1992: Lieve Slegers 1993: Sabrina De Leeuw 1994–95: Lieve Slegers 1996: Ann Mercken 1997–99: Marleen Renders 2000: Veerle Dejaeghere 2001–05: Kim Gevaert 2006: Tia Hellebaut 2007: Kim Gevaert 2008: Tia Hellebaut 2009: Eline Berings 2010: Svetlana Bolshakova 2011: Élodie Ouédraogo 2012: Tia Hellebaut 2013–19: Nafissatou Thiam 2020: not awarded 2021-22: Nafissatou Thiam 2023: Cynthia Bolingo 2024: Nafissatou Thiam
Men's talent winners	1988: Patrick Stevens 1989: Gino Van Geyte 1990: Stefaan Allemeersch 1991: Yassin Guellet 1992: Benjamin Leroy 1993: Nathan Kahan 1994: Erik Nys 1995: Sven Pieters 1996: Kjell Provost 1997: Ben Quintelier 1998: Johan Kloek 1999: Thibaut Duval & Hans Janssens 2000: Matthieu Van Diest 2001: Kevin Rans 2002: Michael Velter 2003: Xavier De Baerdemaeker 2004: Pieter Desmet 2005: Frédéric Xhonneux 2006: Jonathan Borlée 2007: Adrien Deghelt 2008: Kevin Borlée 2009: Jeroen D'hoedt & Thomas Van der Plaetsen 2010: Julien Watrin 2011: Stef Vanhaeren 2012: Dario De Borger 2013: Pieter-Jan Hannes 2014: Mathias Broothaerts 2015: Isaac Kimeli 2016: Ben Broeders 2017: Simon Debognies 2018: Jonathan Sacoor 2019: Thomas Carmoy 2020: not awarded 2021: Jente Hauttekeete 2022: Mimoun Abdoul Wahab 2023: Clément Labar 2024: Elie Bacari
Women's talent winners	1988: Ann Maenhout 1989: Anneke Matthijs 1990: Sandrine Hennart 1991: Anja Smolders 1992: Sabrina De Leeuw 1993: Kathleen Van Hove 1994: Annelies Demeester 1995: Kim Gevaert 1996: Cindy Stas 1997: Ludivine Michel 1998: Catherine Lallemand 1999: Veerle Dejaeghere 2000: Mieke Geens 2001: Sigrid Vanden Bempt 2002: Elfje Willemsen 2003: Olivia Borlée 2004: Lien Huyghebaert 2005: Eline Berings 2006: Annelies Peetroons 2007: Anne Zagré 2008: Hannelore Desmet 2009: Lindsey De Grande 2010: Hanne Van Hessche 2011: Marjolein Lindemans 2012: Nafissatou Thiam 2013: Justien Grillet 2014: Chloé Beaucarne 2015: Louise Carton 2016: Renée Eykens 2017: Hanne Maudens 2018: Elise Vanderelst 2019: Paulien Couckuyt 2020: not awarded 2021: Rani Rosius 2022: Helena Ponette 2023: Delphine Nkansa 2024: Merel Maes
G-athlete winners	2021: Peter Genyn 2022-23: Roger Habsch 2024: Maxime Carabin
G-promotors	2021: Marieke Vervoort 2022: Mieke Van Thuyne