Bernard Lagat is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 games, and is a 13-time medallist in World Championships and Olympics, five of which were gold medals. 

One of those World Championship wins came in the 5000m in Osaka in 2007 where he beat Eliud Kipchoge who took the silver medal. Lagat also won the 1500m title in Osaka. He won two Olympic medals, a bronze medal in 2000 and a silver medal in 2004, both over 1500m.

Lagat was born and brought up in Kenya, for whom he represented in the early stages of his career, but went to college in the USA and became a naturalised citizen of the country in 2005.

Lagat was one of the pacemakers for Kipchoge’s last attempt to run sub-two hours in the Breaking2 project. At 44, he will be the oldest member of the pacemaking team.

To read from Bernard Lagat discussing the INEOS 1:59 Challenge click here.