Paris Olympics: Down steeplechase memory lane as Kibiwott calls for patience

Olympics 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott is well aware that Kenya needs to reclaim its dominance in distance running but has called for patience as the current crop of runners work towards that.

The Commonwealth Games champion, who also bagged bronze at the World Championships in Budapest last year, ran a season-best (SB) of 8:06.47 to finish behind defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali and American surprise silver medalist Kenneth Rooks.

“I dedicate my Bronze medal to my seven-day old daughter, Angel - Kyla Biwott," Lynne Wachira, team Kenya's media Liason to the Paris Games reports. 

Paris Olympics: Steeplechase title continues to elude Team Kenya as El Bakkali writes history

Many have wondered where the rain started beating Team Kenya who had not lost the Olympic title in the distance since 1984 when Julius Korir reclaimed the title that the country had relinquished after boycotting the 1976 and 1990 Games. 

In the last two editions, Morocco's El Bakkali has denied Kenyans the title with Benjamin Kigen and now Kibiwott settling for bronze. Tokyo Olympics silver medal went to Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma who suffered a disheartening fall in the Paris final lap and has since been hospitalised. 

“I am content with the bronze but most importantly it has given be the belief that I still have much to give to the Steeplechase. I urge Kenyans to be a little patient and we will be back," he continued. 

Kenya's dominance in the distance can be traced back to Mexico City 1968 when Amos Biwott led Benjamin Kogo to a 1-2 finish. Kipchoge Keino achieved a similar feat in Munich 1972, leading Ben Jipcho to another 1-2 finish. 

The boycott saw Sweden's Anders Gärderud win the Montreal 1976 Games while Poland's Bronisław Malinowski carried the day in the Moscow 1980 event. 

Korir got Kenya back on top in Los Angeles 1984. His namesake Julius Kariuki dominated in Seoul four years later with Peter Koech completing a Kenyan 1-2. 

Barcelona 1992 saw Kenya sweep the podium with Matthew Birir leading Patrick Sang and William Mutwol, a feat that was repeated 12 years later with two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto and Paul Kipsiele carrying the honours. 

The Atlanta 1996 Games had Jospeh Keter bagging gold while Moses Kiptanui settled on silver, Reuben Kosgei and Wilson Boit reading from a similar script in Sydney 2000. 

In Beijing 2008 Brimin delivered gold with Richard Mateelong managing bronze. 

In London 2012, Kemboi who had finished eighth in the previous edition reclaimed his gold but, once more, French Mahiedine Mekhissi who had bagged silver in Beijing denied Kenya another 1-2 finish as Abel Mutai settled for bronze. 

Kenya's last gold in steeplechase came in Rio with Conseslus Kipruto dominating. It has been bronze since with El Bakkali making history in Paris as the first man to go back-to-back on the titles.