Alfred Kirwa Yego

1.1. Birth and Family

Alfred Kirwa Yego was born on November 28, 1986, in Eldoret, Kenya. His family background includes a notable connection to the world of athletics, as his cousin is Eunice Jepkoech Sum, who is also a prominent middle-distance runner and won a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics.

1.2. Childhood and Early Development

Details of Yego's childhood environment are not widely documented, but it is understood that he engaged with athletics from an early age. His talent became apparent during his formative years, leading to his initial successes in junior competitions and setting the stage for his professional career in middle-distance running.

2.1. Junior and Early Senior Years

Yego made his first significant impact in junior competitions. In 2004, he earned a silver medal in the 800m at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Grosseto, Italy, clocking a time of 1:47.39. This early success highlighted his potential on the international stage.

His debut in a senior global competition came at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland. Despite his junior accomplishments, Yego did not advance past the 800m heats, finishing 30th with a time of 1:48.72. Later that year, he competed at the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where he placed 6th with a time of 1:47.39.

In 2006, Yego secured a bronze medal in the 800m at the 2006 African Championships in Athletics in Bambous, Mauritius, recording a time of 1:46.85. He followed this with an 8th-place finish at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, with a time of 1:48.01.

2.2. Major International Successes

Yego achieved his most prominent success at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan. He won the gold medal in the 800m with a time of 1:47.09, narrowly defeating Gary Reed of Canada by a mere 0.01 seconds. This victory marked his first major international title and established him as a top contender in the event.

Following his World Championship triumph, Yego continued his strong form into the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. There, he earned a bronze medal in the 800m, finishing with a time of 1:44.82. He placed behind fellow Kenyan Wilfred Bungei and Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan, securing his second consecutive podium finish at a major global event. He concluded the 2008 season by winning a gold medal at the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, with a time of 1:49.05.

2.3. Later Career and Other Competitions

In 2009, Yego competed at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, where he won the silver medal in the 800m, clocking 1:45.35. He finished second to Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa. A few weeks later, on September 6, 2009, he significantly improved his personal best in the 800m to 1:42.67 min in Rieti, Italy. In that race, he finished second to David Rudisha, who set a new African record. Yego concluded his 2009 season by placing 7th at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece, with a time of 1:46.66.

In 2010, Yego continued to compete at a high level, securing another silver medal in the 800m at the 2010 African Championships in Athletics in Nairobi, Kenya, recording a time of 1:44.85. His last major international appearance covered by the sources was at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, where he finished 7th in the 800m with a time of 1:45.83.

2.4. Career Results

The following table summarizes Alfred Kirwa Yego's major international competitive results: