Stephen is pictured above (1802) leaping to avoid the fallen Hicham El Guerrouj in the
final of the 1500m at the 1996 Olympics. Kipkorir went on to take the bronze medal
behind Noureddine Morceli (1012) and Fermin Cacho in the red & yellow vest.
| |
| Men's 1500m. Final. Olympic Games 1996 |
| |
|
|
. |
|
| 1. Noureddine Morceli |
|
ALG |
|
3: 35.78 |
| 2. Fermin Cacho |
|
ESP |
|
3: 36.40 |
| 3. Stephen Kipkorir |
|
KEN |
|
3: 36.72 |
| 4. Laban Rotich |
|
KEN |
|
3: 37.39 |
| 5. William Tanui |
|
KEN |
|
3: 37.42 |
| 6. Abdi Bile |
|
SOM |
|
3: 38.03 |
| 7. Marko Koers |
|
NED |
|
3: 38.18 |
| 8. Ali Hakimi |
|
TUN |
|
3: 38.19 |
Stephen Kipkorir's running career began on 23rd. March 1996, when he finished fourteenth
at the World Cross Championships held in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr. Gabriele Rosa noticed
him and convinced him to run the 1500 metres. Five months later he won the Olympic bronze medal.
His personal best time in the 1,500 metres was 3:31.87 minutes, achieved in July 1996 in Lausanne.
His last international competition took place in 2001.
After his brief athletic career he became a professional soldier. He also owned a farm near Sugoi,
an area close to Eldoret in which were living other athletes: Moses Tanui, Joyce Chepchumba
her husband Aron, and David Kiptoo.
Stephen was killed in a military vehicle crash on the road between Nakuru and Eldoret.