Christopher Koskei

Christopher Koskei
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Kenya
World Championships

Christopher Koskei (also written Kosgei, born 14 August 1974) is a Kenyan runner who specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He became known when he, running barefoot, won the silver medal at 1995 World Championships. After that performance, he was not able to improve his PB, having problems in his training in 1996 and 1997. In 1998 he ran only 8:48 minutes, and decided to stop running.

But at the beginning of October 1998, he met in Iten the Italian coach Renato Canova, in Kenya for the first time together with his manager Gianni Demadonna. After a long talk, he decided to try again, following the new plan from the Italian Coach.

He was able to rebuild his shape, managing a very busy season (with 14 competitions), with the most important peak in the World Championships of Seville, when he became World Champion, four years after the silver in Gothenburg.

He is the elder brother of the current world record holder Stephen Cherono (Saif Saaeed Shaheen), who followed the same coach. Koskei has another brother, Abraham, who likewise follows the family tradition of steeplechasing.

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
1993	IAAF World Cross Country Championships		2nd	Junior race	20:20
	IAAF World Cross Country Championships		1st	Junior team	10 pts
	African Championships	Durban, South Africa	2nd	3000 m steeplechase	8:24.58
1995	World Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	2nd	3000 m steeplechase
1999	World Championships	Seville, Spain	1st	3000 m steeplechase
	All-Africa Games	Johannesburg, South Africa	3rd	3000 m steeplechase
	Military World Games	Zagreb, Croatia	3rd	3000 m steeplechase