Saif Saaeed Shaheen

About Saif Saaeed Shaheen

Saif Saaeed Shaheen formerly Stephen Cherono is a steeplechase runner. He was born in Keiyo, Kenya, but now represents Qatar. He currently holds the world record for 3000 metre steeplechase. He is a two time World Champion in the event. His older brother Abraham Cherono is also a steeplechase runner.

Career Success:

He was the 1999 World Youth Champion in the steeplechase and set a world junior record two years later. He won the steeplechase at the 2002 Commonwealth Games for Kenya but switched allegiance to Qatar in 2003. That year he became world champion in the event, although a dispute with the Kenyan Athletics Federation meant he was ineligible to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He defeated that year's Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, a month later with a world record run of 7:53.63 minutes.

In the 2006 season he took the 3000 metres silver medal at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships and also set a number of Asian records. He completed a 5000 m/steeplechase double at the 2006 IAAF World Cup. Serious injuries ruled him out from late 2006 to 2008 and he returned to competition in 2009.

Saif Saaeed Shaheen Achievements

World Championships

• Gold medal – first place2003 Paris3000 m st.
  
• Gold medal – first place2005 Helsinki3000 m st.
  

World Indoor Championships

• Silver medal – second place2006 Moscow3000 m
  

World Youth Championships

• Gold medal – first place1999 Bydgoszcz2000 m st.
  

Commonwealth Games

• Gold medal – first place2002 Manchester3000 m st.